Editing 4G (section)

=== IPv6 support ===
Unlike 3G, which is based on two parallel infrastructures consisting of [[circuit switched]] and [[packet switched]] network nodes, 4G is based on packet switching ''only''. This requires [[Network latency|low-latency]] data transmission.

As IPv4 addresses are (nearly) [[IPv4 address exhaustion|exhausted]],<ref group=Note>The exact exhaustion status is difficult to determine, as it is unknown how many unused addresses exist at ISPs, and how many of the addresses that are permanently unused by their owners can still be freed and transferred to others.</ref> [[IPv6]] is essential to support the large number of wireless-enabled devices that communicate using IP. By increasing the number of [[IP address]]es available, IPv6 removes the need for [[network address translation]] (NAT), a method of sharing a limited number of addresses among a larger group of devices, which has [[network address translation#Issues and limitations|a number of problems and limitations]]. When using IPv6, some kind of NAT is still required for communication with legacy IPv4 devices that are not also IPv6-connected.

{{As of|2009|06}}, [[Verizon Communications|Verizon]] has posted specifications that require any 4G devices on its network to support IPv6.<ref>
{{cite web
    | url = http://lteuniversity.com/get_trained/expert_opinion1/b/hoomanrazani/archive/2009/06/15/lte-device-requirements-for-verizon-wireless.aspx
    | title = LTE Device Requirements for Verizon Wireless
    | date = June 16, 2009
    | access-date = April 23, 2024
    | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180306142655/http://lteuniversity.com/get_trained/expert_opinion1/b/hoomanrazani/archive/2009/06/15/lte-device-requirements-for-verizon-wireless.aspx
    | archive-date = March 6, 2018
}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite web
    | last = Morr
    | first = Derek
    | title = Verizon mandates IPv6 support for next-gen cell phones
    | date =June 9, 2009
    | url = http://www.personal.psu.edu/dvm105/blogs/ipv6/2009/06/verizon-mandates-ipv6-support.html
    | access-date = June 10, 2009
}}
</ref>