IPv4 Exhaustion and the Slow Rollout of IPv6: A 2024 Retrospective

In 2024, the internet's IPv4 address pool continued to shrink, while IPv6 adoption remained sluggish. This article analyzes IPv4 address allocation data, revealing that the address trading market hasn't effectively recycled unused addresses, leading to volatile pricing. Meanwhile, IPv6 deployment, while growing, falls short of expectations and shows regional disparities. The author predicts a future of highly fragmented internet, with IPv6 adoption being a key factor. The piece delves into technical, economic, and policy aspects impacting internet development and offers insightful future projections.