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THE world will run out of internet addresses by 2010, with only 700 million separate addresses remaining for allocation out of the 4.3 billion available on the present network.
Every device that connects to the internet needs a separate address, and 30 years ago web designers assumed four billion would be ample, The Australian reports.
Now all internet users must move to an upgraded platform - called Internet Protocol version 6 - to access the 340 trillion-trillion-trillion new addresses needed to connect not only billions of new users but also the trillions of sensor devices that will require networking as technology takes greater control of people's lives.
"IPv6 provides more addresses in cyberspace than there are grains of sands on the world's beaches," said Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for the Information Society.
Geoff Huston, chief scientist of the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre, which manages address allocation within the region, said he hovered between calling the situation a challenge or a crisis.
A shortfall in addresses would stifle networking of small and simple devices for energy management for lighting, intelligent building systems and remote-control sensors.
The growing demand for IP addresses and the cost and technical difficulties involved in shifting to IPv6 are under discussion at the OECD ministerial meeting on the future of the internet economy in Seoul this week, attended by Communications Minister Stephen Conroy.
Mr Huston said deferring investment in the shift to IPv6 increased the risk of negative outcomes and rising costs.
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