There are currently more than 350 million people actively using the Internet and the number of users continues to grow. Every use of the Internet, as well as every device that accesses the Internet, needs a unique IP (Internet Protocol) address. The current version of IP addresses is version 4, and is referred to as IPv4. With the ever increasing use of the Internet and devices that access it, the remaining pool of available IPv4 addresses has been substantially depleted.

In order to make additional IP addresses available, a new address type has been created. This new address type is called IPv6 and will be used simultaneously with IPv4. It is predicted that by 2012, the remaining IPv4 address space will be completely exhausted. Internet Service Providers (ISPs), such as Time Warner Cable, will continue to provide service through this transition over a dual IPv4- and IPv6-enabled connection.

For a huge majority of Internet users, this transition will be seamless. Review the information provided here to better understand the IPv6 transition, its potential impact to you and suggested ways to be prepared.

• Time Warner Cable successfully prepared for and participated in World IPv6 Day that took place on June 8, 2011.
• Limited consumer IPv6 trials have begun and will be increasing throughout 2011.
• Time Warner Cable expects to offer fully supported production IPv6 service to commercial and residential customers in the first half of 2012. Since not all vendors have met Time Warner Cable's strict quality standards, production service may not be immediately available in all areas.
• Time Warner Cable Business Class will begin offering an IPv6 Dedicated Internet Access (DIA) service in September 2011.
• To prepare for IPv6, consumers are advised to purchase only routers and consumer electronics that support IPv6. Devices with good IPv6 support will carry the "IPv6 Ready CPE" logo.