IPv6 in cdma2000 Mobile Networks

Abstract

In the not-too-distant future, a very large number of new nodes will be connected to the Internet via wireline networks (e.g., cable modem, dial-up, DSL, Ethernet, etc) and wireless networks (e.g., cdma2000, GPRS, UMTS, 802.11b/a/g, etc.). Despite the use of CIDR and the widespread introduction of NAT gateways and ALGs into the Internet (which conserve IPv4 address space), there will come a time when the current IPv4 address space will no longer be adequate. Although there is considerable debate about just exactly when that time will be, IPv6 (with its expanded addressing capability) is a feasible solution to this problem. This paper describes the impacts that the deployment of IPv6 is expected to have on cdma2000 (a third generation cellular network being standardized by 3GGP2 and TIA). The primary focus is on the cdma2000 mobile station and packet core network functionality at and above the network layer. The IPv6 deployment strategy presented in this paper is based upon a “phased approach” so that cdma2000 service providers will be able to realize many of the benefits of IPv6 while not having to upgrade their entire existing IPv4 infrastructure.