Toward an IPv6 world in mobile networks – mechanisms for IPv4 to IPv6 transition

connected hosts reduce this effectiveness, as do many web applications that demand multiple ports. NAT also introduces further complications (Box B). Nevertheless, many mobile networks employ NAT today, and more will do so in the future. While NAT was devised as a shortterm solution, the IETF defined the next version of IP, IPv6, as the long-term solution for the address shortage. IPv6 has numerous improvements over IPv4, but one key feature is the fact that the new address space is orders of magnitude larger. Now facing an enormous increase in the number of connected devices, mobile networks are among the first that need the IPv6 address space.