In view of the rising demand for internet address space, Malaysia is mulling a move to migrate its internet network to Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) from the current 4 (IPv4). Information Communication and Culture Deputy Minister Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum said that in 2004, a National IPv6 Council was set up to study, among others, implications in establishing the IPv6 network in terms of policy, regulatory environment, investments, timelines, manpower requirements and infrastructure deployment.

"These initiatives are testimony of the government's commitment and recognition of the important role played by advanced communications infrastructure to support the development of research and development activities in the country," he said when opening the 28th Asia Pacific Advanced Network (Apan) meeting here on Tuesday.

Apan, a non-profit international consortium established on June 3, 1997, is designed to be a high-performance network for research and development on advanced next-generation applications and services. Salang said the commitments would provide an adequate broadband to all universities and higher learning institutions in the country, as well as between the Malaysian Research and Education Network (MyREN) and other national research and education networks globally. Article Bernama