Viet Nam's leading internet providers and suppliers of network devices are bemoaning the slow implementation of Internet protocol version 6 (IPv6) plans in the country.

IPv6, which has an improved option mechanism over IPv4, increases the number of IP addresses and allows electronic devices to automatically configure factors for Internet connections. There is no specified standard for IPv6 in the country.

Manufacturers and importers of network devices complained that a lot of obstacles continue to hinder implementation of the IPv6 plans.

The state management agencies have not set up the technical standards, while the relevant agencies have not declared the preferential policies for the production and import of the devices compatible to IPv6.

Meanwhile, digital content firms said the biggest hindrance is the incompatibility of the software apps with IPv6. Software developed by enterprises themselves account for up to 50 per cent of the total software being used in the information and telecommunication technology system.

In Viet Nam, the Ministry of Information and Communications issued a three-phase national action plan for IPv6 in 2011. It consists of preparations in 2011-12, introduction between 2013 and 2015, and then transformation between 2016 and 2019.

In May, 2015, a national IPv6 network was set up by VNNIC.

However, the Viet Nam Post and Telecommunication Group (VNPT) still has not implemented the plan to provide IPv6 for access services. It has only tried IPv6 for and websites of the Ministry of Information and Communications.

In October 2013, VNPT began deploying IPv6, but in a small scale network, just to assess the equipment's efficiency and other features.

Other big enterprises including FPT Telecom and Viettel have also moved ahead with the plan to implement IPv6. Viettel has connected with the national IPv6 network and maintains the connections with nine international partners, including HKIX, AKAMAI, HE, Google, Microsoft and Yahoo.

Viettel has provided IPv6 connection services on a trial basis to 1,000 subscribers of ADSL, which runs now on both IPv4 and IPv6. It has also provided IPv6 connections to 1,000 USB 3G subscribers in Ha Noi.

In 2013, Viettel successfully upgraded the equipment allowing the spread of network access for wired broadband services and 3G services in order to support IPv6.

In reality, IPv4 addresses were exhausted in April, 2011. Therefore, countries are concentrating on developing IPv6 while using IPv4. Alexa web information company's statistics show that more than 7 per cent of the top 50 websites use IPv6.

Viet Nam is now 79th among 258 countries using IPv6, according to the Viet Nam Internet Network Information Centre (VNNIC).