Uganda’s Internet users to get unlimited services

Kampala.

Internet users will now have unlimited access to Internet Protocol addresses for their gadgets after the Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) launched the new Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) Test bed.

The UCC executive director, Mr Godfrey Mutabazi, last Thursday said Uganda is hosting the infrastructure (IPv6 Test Bed) to be used by all the stakeholders in the East African Region as they assess their readiness in adopting IPv6 address standard.
“Uganda is member of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and one of the benefits of this membership is technical support in implementation of international technical transactions like the current ongoing global transition from IPv4 to 1Pv6,” Mr Mutabazi said.

Impact
On the impact on internet users, Mr Mutabazi said the new infrastructure will increase uptake of internet in the country while influencing a reduction of data costs in the long run.
He also said the IPv6 will ensure internet-user accountability while at the same time curbing down on cyber-crime.

Ms Irene Kaggwa Sewankambo, the UCC director of engineering and communication infrastructure, said for any device to be connected to the internet it needs a numerical IP address in order to communicate with other devices.

“Each computer on the internet has its own public IP address, similar to a phone number. Computers on the internet talk to each other through IPv4,” Ms Sewankambo said.

She said space on the IPv6 scheme has been increased to admit more gadgets ranging from computers, phones, door bells, among others.

Tight-lipped
However, the officials at UCC were hesitant to state the costs involved in developing the IPv6 Test bed, saying it was a result of a partnership with ITU.

Mr Alain Aina, a consultant from the ITU, said the Test bed will be used for capacity building and developing innovation tools.

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