Against the backdrop of accelerated integration of the global digital economy, Chinese enterprises have upgraded from “optional” to “mandatory” to go overseas. However, in the face of the complex and changing international competitive environment, ensuring the consistency of standards and interoperability has become the key for enterprises to break through the market barriers. ipv6, as the core protocol of the next-generation Internet, has not only reshaped the underlying logic of the global network infrastructure, but also become an important threshold and bridge for market access in various countries. Opening up this digital channel may become the key for Chinese enterprises to realize the strategic leap to the global market in the process of going overseas.

Accelerating Global IPv6 Deployment: A Transformation with No Retreat

With the depletion of global IPv4 address resources, the large-scale deployment of Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) has become an irreversible global trend. As of April 2025, data from the Asia-Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC) shows that IPv6 user penetration in the Asia-Pacific region has steadily surpassed 50%, marking a new phase after 25 years of technological evolution. Globally, the comprehensive IPv6 deployment rate has approached 40%, achieving a 300% explosive growth compared to five years ago, and continues to rise. This process not only restructures the underlying logic of internet infrastructure but also emerges as a critical strategic element in globalized corporate competition.

From a regional perspective, China and India, leveraging their massive user bases, strong policy drives, and capital investments, firmly occupy the first tier of IPv6 deployment. Currently, under policy support such as China’s *Action Plan for Promoting Large-Scale Deployment of Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6)*, the country’s IPv6 deployment rate stands at 45.16%, with 810.5 million users, ranking first globally. India covers over 600 million users. Early shortages of IPv4 resources forced these nations to adopt "leapfrog" development strategies to seize opportunities, laying foundations for emerging scenarios like smart manufacturing and smart cities. Under the collaborative development of the Asia-Pacific Economic Community, other economies beyond China and India also shine. Vietnam and Thailand, supported by policy initiatives, have exceeded 50% deployment rates, while South Korea and Japan, with mature 5G networks and IoT ecosystems, drive IPv6 traffic share on mobile devices to over 60%.

Meanwhile, Europe and the U.S., leveraging early-mover advantages, lead global IPv6 deployment. To date, the U.S. actively advances next-generation internet upgrades with an IPv6 deployment rate exceeding 50%. EU nations, under data sovereignty frameworks, build IPv6 technical systems to strengthen local network resilience. Led by France and Germany, average deployment rates exceed 50%.

While the global internet is expected to remain in a dual-stack mode, the rollout of 5G and 6G systems in more economies will sustain strong growth in IPv6 capabilities in the mobile domain. Crucially, IPv6’s native encryption features (e.g., IPSec support) align with regulations like the EU’s Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) and the U.S. NIST Cybersecurity Framework. For Chinese enterprises aiming to expand globally, this is no longer a mere technical choice but a survival line tied to market access.

Policy Trends: Emerging Markets Enforce Mandatory IPv6 Access

Emerging markets worldwide are accelerating IPv6 technology ecosystems through policy frameworks and standardization. Many nations are legislating IPv6 into market access systems, upgrading it from a "recommended standard" to a "mandatory certification," forming regionally distinct technical access regimes. These heightened market entry barriers create unique opportunities for Chinese enterprises. The underlying logic stems from deep interactions between technical standard restructuring, industrial ecosystem reshaping, and global value chain repositioning.

Focusing on Southeast Asia, Malaysia’s communications regulatory system continues advancing IPv6 standardization. As early as July 2019, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) issued the MCMC MTSFB TC T013:2019 technical standard, mandating that terminal devices, network infrastructure, and cybersecurity equipment sold domestically must pass IPv6 certification starting July 10, 2020. This standard became a key technical benchmark for Malaysia’s digital transformation strategy. Under updated regulations, SIRIM QAS International has clarified that non-Wi-Fi IPv6 products (including cellular network equipment, fiber-optic transmission devices) must undergo testing at designated labs to obtain market access. Notably, the current interim certification mechanism will expire on July 10, 2025, after which enterprises must submit full compliance test reports and technical documentation for formal certification. This policy significantly impacts the Asia-Pacific communications supply chain, requiring Chinese exporters to pre-plan certification cycles, refine technical validation systems, and accelerate end-to-end capabilities covering protocol development, device compatibility testing, and certification management.

Similarly, Brazil, as South America’s largest economy, initiated public consultations on "Technical Requirements for IPv6 Protocol Compliance Assessment of Telecom Products" through its National Telecommunications Agency (ANATEL) on January 9, 2023. After legal review, Resolution No. 7971 (legally issued on June 22, 2023) was formally enacted on July 6, 2023, approving technical specifications for IPv6 compliance assessments. The requirements took effect immediately and will enter full mandatory enforcement on January 8, 2024, making IPv6 certification a prerequisite for entering Brazil’s market. To accelerate IPv6 adoption, ANATEL announced systematic promotion measures, including publishing IPv6 whitepapers, hosting IPv6-themed events, and establishing a national IPv6 deployment monitoring framework.

Other emerging markets are also driving IPv6 transition through policies, initiatives, and promotional activities, with technical requirements likely to tighten further. For example, the Arab ICT Organization (AICTO) established the IPv6 Arab Enhancement Council to boost regional IPv6 penetration through strategic partnerships. In Southeast Asia, Vietnam’s Ministry of Information and Communications issued Resolution No. 377/QD-BTTTT, approving its 2024 IPv6 Transition and Government IPv6 Application Plan, accelerating full government and public sector migration to IPv6 with a 2026 IPv6-only target. In Africa, Kenya established a National IPv6 Committee to systematically advance IPv6 migration for household terminals, enterprise devices, and internet infrastructure. These regional access regimes pose challenges—such as protocol stack upgrades and localized certification—for Chinese exporters while creating strategic windows to participate in emerging markets’ digital infrastructure upgrades.

Surge in IPv6 Ready Certification: Building a Global Passport for Connected Devices

The IPv6 Ready Logo certification system, led by the IPv6 Forum, serves as the core metric for measuring network devices’ IPv6 support. Through rigorous conformance and interoperability testing, it has become the global technical benchmark. The certification is integrated into regional market access regulations (e.g., EU, ASEAN) and recognized by regulatory bodies in 35 countries, including the U.S., Japan, and South Korea, forming a globally accepted label covering over 30 product categories like routers, switches, cybersecurity devices, smart connected vehicles, and robots.

According to the latest statistics of “2024 Global IPv6 Support Whitepaper” released by Global IPv6 Forum (IPv6 Forum) and China Future Internet Engineering Center (CFIEC), the scale of IPv6 Ready certification is accelerating, with 1,297 new certified devices in the world in 2024, representing a year-on-year increase of 124%, which is the peak of the historical growth rate. As of November 2024, the total number of Phase-2 global certifications exceeded 3,500, and the total number of certified devices exceeded 8,100, doubling the scale from three years ago. In terms of geographical distribution, China leads the world with 1,597 certifications and 2,971 devices, while the U.S. and Japan are in the second and third places, with 1,100 and 470 IPv6 Ready Logos, respectively, highlighting the high-level competitiveness of the industry chain; other countries such as South Korea, India, New Zealand, Germany, France, and Brazil are also accelerating IPv6 Ready certifications at the same time, with a total of nearly 400 certified devices.

For globalizing enterprises, the strategic value of IPv6 Ready certification transcends basic compliance—it is a cornerstone for market breakthroughs. With emerging markets like Malaysia and Brazil mandating IPv6 certification for connected devices and the EU linking it to 5G deployment, Chinese enterprises can unlock multi-country market access through certification, significantly reducing policy friction. The certification logo also serves as a "trust mark" in international procurement, granting certified devices premium pricing advantages in operator bulk purchases and government digital project tenders. Notably, emerging categories like home networking devices and industrial terminals account for less than 15% of certifications. Early adopters can avoid supply chain risks from late-stage protocol upgrades and gain first-mover advantages in blue-ocean markets.

In the context of globalization and deep promotion of IPv6, IPv6 certification is becoming a “global passport” to escort Chinese enterprises to the sea and help Chinese manufacturers to go to the sea. It is understood that up to now, China Future Internet Engineering Center (CFIEC) - Global IPv6 Test Center, as a multinational recognized IPv6 testing and certification accredited laboratory, has been sent to the test from Huawei, Xiaomi, OPPO, vivo, Lenovo, ZTE, Tingqiao and other more than 40 manufacturers around the world of nearly 1,000 types of equipment for rigorous testing and issued a third-party test report, the equipment covers the smartphone, Tablets, laptops, and 14 categories such as smart home, robots, drones, and smart connected cars. In this regard, Liu Dong, Director of Global IPv6 Test Center, said, “The global digitalization process is accelerating, the penetration rate of IPv6 devices continues to climb, and the international community's policy access requirements for IPv6 are becoming more and more stringent, so Chinese overseas enterprises need to speed up the layout of IPv6 technology to meet the challenges of internationalization. Adhering to the principle of rigor, fairness and accuracy, the Global IPv6 Test Center will collaborate with relevant enterprises to do a good job in third-party evaluation of IPv6 to ensure that it fully meets the requirements of protocol consistency and interconnection and interoperability, and to help Chinese products to go overseas.”