PARIS -- The Ipv6 Task Force France has met with solid success among participants representing industry, Internet and telecom operators, government, public associations and universities. All these constituencies are keenly aware of the stakes for their various activities in the evolution of IP technologies. Created in September 2002 at the initiative of 6WIND and supported by France’s Ministry of Research and New Technologies, the IPv6 Task Force France is proactively involved in outreach initiatives to heighten awareness of opportunities linked to the development of IP networks towards the new version of the Internet Protocol, IPv6. The Task Force addresses all those interested in contributing to the deployment of IPv6 networks and applications.One of the primary objectives of the Task Force is to facilitate links among the participants involved to foster experience sharing, and to coordinate development and joint construction of pre-commercial platforms in order to validate new network and service concepts. Another core objective is to promote IPv6 technologies and support the transition to IPv6. Deployment of IPv6 represents tremendous stakes in terms of technology and economic performance, as well as for society in general. At the technical level, the next-generation Internet protocol will see the development of a new architecture and operational networks with expanded capacity to accommodate millions of users and an ever-growing number of communicating devices.The economic stakes are equally important since this evolution of the Internet will have a positive impact on the development of countless segments of the economy, spanning both manufacturing and services. For society as a whole, new Internet capabilities and the myriad possible applications will have direct impact on our daily lives. IPv6 will create new wealth by ushering in new Internet applications in every imaginable area: transport, industry, education, entertainment, healthcare, security and much, much more. Successful deployment of IPv6 technologies requires careful preparation and development of those services and applications that can take advantage of the tremendous potential of this new-generation Internet. The IPv6 Task Force France is determined to be the driving force behind this deployment, and in judging the increasing number of its members (there are already more than 200 members just six months after the creation of the Task Force), this objective meets a strong demand. Equally important is the commitment and support of French Research Minister Claudie Haigneré, who has recognized IPv6 as one of the key new technologies to be supported by active government initiatives. She confirmed her support for the Task Force earlier this year at an Internet symposium in Autrans: “I am delighted to announce that our ministry will support the functioning of the French IPv6 Task Force launched by 6WIND within the scope of the 2003 RENATER research budget”.Dany Vandromme, director of RENATER (the French national Telecommunication Network for Technology, Education and Research) notes: “The RENATER 3 network will natively transport the IPv6 protocol, contributing to the deployment of the new Internet protocol in France. This is why RENATER is playing a central role as a member of the IPv6 Task Force France in developing IPv6 usage and solutions throughout the country."6WIND chairman Patrick Cocquet, who is also vice-president of the IPv6 Forum, emphasizes the importance of IPv6 for manufacturers: “The second-generation Internet that we are now building will literally revolutionize industry. IPv6 has been designed specifically for new devices and applications, making the Internet a communications network capable of interconnecting all types of terminals. This creates opportunities for operators and ISPs to develop innovative business models based on new services. This will also create huge potential for the entire electronics and software industry to develop forward-looking products, applications and systems.”Telecom operators are equally enthusiastic about the IPv6, says Tayeb Ben Meriem, who heads France Telecom R&D’s IPv6 Skills Centre: “France Télécom was one of the very first operators in Europe to obtain, in July 2000, an IPv6 prefix to deliver addresses, thanks to its R&D center’s involvement in IPv6 standardization works and the company’s leading position in the Internet domain. Following its participation to the deployment of experimental IPv6 networks and services (collaboration to national or European Commission-supported projects), France Télécom has naturally joined the IPv6 Task Force France at its creation. Already contributing to the European IPv6 Task Force works, France Télécom also brings its expertise and participation in the French Task Force’s recommendations for the deployment of services and the generalization of usages on a national scale.”IPv6 Task Force