Jumping on the IPv6 bandwagon, Buckeye CableSystem has become one of the first mid-sized cable operators to begin upgrading to the next-gen Internet address numbering protocol.

Buckeye, an Ohio-based MSO with about 130,000 basic cable subscribers, said it will start making the tricky transition from IPv4 to IPv6 to gain the network capacity needed to support the exploding number of IP-enabled consumer electronics devices that its customers use. The cable provider also aims to use IPv6 to deploy new IP services quicker and easier, add more encryption and security safeguards, improve network routing and comply more effectively with government regulations, among other things.

"We are constantly striving to enhance the customer experience for our subscribers, and being able to efficiently provision our services and quickly add new ones in a way that is both cost-effective and reliable is something that we consider critical to this effort," said Joe Jensen, CTO of Buckeye CableSystem, in a prepared statement.

On that front, Buckeye is in good company. The cable industry has been aggressive in its IPv6 preparation, with Comcast Corp. leading the way. The largest U.S. MSO says it expects to roll out broadband services supporting IPv6 to all its residential high-speed data customers by the end of the year. (See CE Laggards Could Hinder Cable's IPv6 Transition and Comcast Preps Commercial Trials for IPv6.)

As part of its upgrade to IPv6, Buckeye is tapping into new service provisioning software from Incognito Software Inc. Specifically, Buckeye will employ the latest version of Incognito's Broadband Command Center software, which the MSO has been using since 2005.

Incognito says the latest version of its provisioning system adds IPv6 support and access to DOCSIS 3.0 capabilities. Buckeye will use this new version for activating and provisioning voice and data services. The solution is built to multiple familiar standards, including TR-069, DOCSIS 3.0, PacketCable 2.0, SIP and DHCPv6. Incognito claims that it now supports more than 110 million subscribers with its provisioning software.

— Mari Silbey, special to Light Reading Cable