Brussels, 08/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission welcomed the official launch on 6 June of the Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6). This protocol will co-exist with the previous Internet Protocol version (IPv4). IPv6 will allow faster internet speeds than the previous version, which no longer allows for standard network development, as it has become a victim of its own success. As explained by the Internet Society, the switchover was indispensable because IPv6 makes available a practically unlimited number of addresses (340 trillions of trillions of trillions), IPv6 makes available a practically unlimited number of addresses (340 trillions of trillions of trillions) whereas the number of IP addresses available using IPv4 is limited to around 4 billion. The Commission is delighted that IPv6 will facilitate standard development in innovation throughout the internet services and applications sector, in keeping with the targets contained within the EUROPE 2020 Digital Agenda. (IL/transl.fl)