The 'Agreement of the Council of Ministers for approving the Development Plan for the Integration of Spain in the IPv6 Protocol' is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade (MITYC) and the Ministry of Territorial Policy and Public Administration (MPTYAP). The objective is to promote and accelerate the deployment of IPv6 in infrastructure and services of the Information Society in general and eGovernment in particular.

Policy Context

The depletion of Internet address space, along with the need to incorporate other technological innovations, require that the AAPP leads the transition from IPv4 to IPv6. This need has been identified as a priority within the European Union as a whole, with the Spanish Plan a first step from the commitments contained in the 'European Action Plan on eGovernment 2011-2015', which states that "administrations will need to take action to upgrade IPv6-relevant eGovernment infrastructure (portals, websites, applications, etc.) and online services of public interest, in view of the depletion of IPv4 addresses".

Description of target users and groups

The IPv6 transition Plan focuses on the Spanish society as a whole. However, in this case, only the actions targeting the Public Administration are described.

Description of the way to implement the initiative

In the field of Public Administration, the promotion of the integration of IPv6 into the infrastructure and eGovernment services is contained in the following aspects of the plan:

1. Integration of IPv6 in the Internet services run by MITYC and 060 (eGovernment National Portal)  run by MPTYAP. Both projects will be considered as priority projects, followed by CP-CSAE, being a practical reference for other public bodies (Point 1 of the Plan).
2.  The Portal of the eGovernment Observatory will provide information on the process of incorporation of IPv6 in the AAPP (Point 2).
3.  MPTYAP promote the incorporation of IPv6 in the Public Administration through the governance structures responsible for eGovernment. In particular, the Ministry will begin studies to provide IPv6 addressing the government, will update the Plan addressing and interconnection of the Administration and the Technical Standards for Interoperability and will include in the Action Plan for Electronic Administration of the National Government 2011-15 the measures necessary for the deployment of IPv6 in the network SARA. Similarly, training activities will be defined by those responsible for the Internet services of the Administration (Point 8).
4. MPTYAP will promote the incorporation of IPv6 as a requirement in public procurement of products and services information technology and communications, with reference to this preferred international standards or recommendations (Point 9).
5. MITYC and MPTYAP will take part in international fora related with the transition from IPv4 to IPv6 (Point 10).

The Full Plan available in English at http://administracionelectronica.gob.es/recursos/pae_020000697.pdf .

Technology solution

Technology choice: Standards-based technology, Mainly (or only) open standards

Lessons learnt

IPv6 Transition in eGovernment Infrastructure requires the continuity of implementation of the IPv4 protocol. The Transition Plan in question will have different implementation scenarios in the various public bodies depending on the strategies created and implemented by their responsible..

Scope: National