France Surpasses India in Global IPv6 Adoption, Achieving 73.3% Utilization
France achieves a leading IPv6 adoption rate of 73.3%, surpassing India, according to Arcep.
Key Points
- • France has reached a 73.3% IPv6 adoption rate, surpassing India.
- • 87% of fixed network clients and 70% of mobile clients utilize IPv6.
- • Only 35% of websites and 23% of email servers are on IPv6.
- • Arcep's 'Ambition 2030' aims for nearly complete IPv6 adoption.
France has solidified its status as the global leader in IPv6 adoption, reaching a utilization rate of 73.3% as of June 2025, according to Arcep, the national telecommunications regulatory authority. This noteworthy achievement surpasses India, marking a significant milestone in the country's digital transition efforts.
The necessity for this shift stems from the depletion of IPv4 addresses, a system that has been in place since 1983 and provides only around 4.3 billion addresses, compared to IPv6's astronomical 340 sextillion addresses. As founding director of RIPE NCC highlighted, the organization reported in 2019 that it was 'running out of IPv4 addresses,' making the transition to IPv6 crucial for comprehensive internet connectivity.
Currently, the adoption rates in France reveal considerable variation: while 87% of fixed network clients and 70% of mobile clients are now using IPv6, only 35% of websites and a mere 23% of email servers have transitioned to this new protocol. However, the last two to three years have seen a positive trend with a 15-point increase in adoption rates among websites and email servers.
Arcep's 'Ambition 2030' program aims to bring IPv6 adoption close to 100%, recognizing the necessity for further engagement from smaller enterprises, particularly SMEs and micro-enterprises, which have lagged in this transition. The move is seen as vital not only for improving competitiveness across sectors but also for supporting innovation in the ever-evolving digital landscape.