IPv6 is a long-anticipated to the Internet's main communications protocol, known as IPv4. While IPv4 has a 32-bit addressing scheme and can support around 4 billion individually addressed devices, IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses and can support a virtually limitless number of devices on the Internet.

IPv6 adoption is on the rise, due to network industry predictions that the Internet will of IPv4 addresses within three years. At that time, all backbone and corporate networks will need to support IPv6.

The Army is ahead of the curve with its new state-of-the-art data network, which will support its operations in Grafenwoehr, Germany -- the home of the 7th Army Joint Multinational Training Center (). 

AT&T is installing and testing a new campus data network, which will support Army personnel at 600 JMTC buildings. AT&T says the installation will be complete in January 2010.

``This is a Layer 2/Layer 3 data network for a campus,'' said Carl Tegen, Director of Defense Networks at AT&T Government Solutions. ``We will basically install switches and routers in end-user buildings and...a network to distribute Layer 2/Layer 3 connectivity around the training area.''