The end of IPv4?

On February 3, 2011, the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) allocated the last five remaining "/8"s of IPv4 address space to the Regional Internet Registries (RIRs); the local registries are running low on IPv4 addresses, rapidly.

The advent of new Internet-connected locations (from hotels to planes and more world-wide) and new Internet-connected devices (notable examples include smartphones, smart meters, gaming devices and other household appliances) has exacerbated the shortage. Each of these extra devices places greater pressure on the existing IPv4 infrastructure.

The IPv6 adoption rate is increasing rapidly. On World IPv6 Day and World IPv6 Launch, in June 2011 and 2012, the world turned on IPv6 and left it on. It was a success according to the event organizers. For example, in 2012, over 60 access providers and more than 3,000 websites publicly participated in the Launch event. Those participants all have committed to keeping IPv6 running as part of normal business operations.