China’s IPv9 Decimal Network Project Explained

China’s IPv9 decimal network project was a proposed alternative to the global Internet Protocol (IP) addressing system, designed to use decimal-based addresses instead of the hexadecimal-based IPv4 and IPv6. It aimed to create a separate, sovereign network infrastructure with its own addressing scheme, routing protocols, and domain name system, though it never saw widespread adoption outside of limited trials.

Background and Origins

The IPv9 project emerged in the late 1990s and early 2000s as part of China’s broader efforts to develop indigenous internet technologies. The official name is “Internet Protocol Version 9” (IPv9), also referred to as “Decimal Network” or “Chinese Digital Network.” It was developed by researchers at the China Electronics Standardization Institute and other state-affiliated bodies, with the goal of creating an internet that was not dependent on the United States-controlled ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) and the existing root servers.

The project was partly motivated by concerns over US dominance of the internet’s core infrastructure, including IP address allocation and DNS root management. China sought to build a network that could operate independently, especially in times of geopolitical tension. The IPv9 initiative was also seen as a way to address the shortage of IPv4 addresses, though IPv6 was already being developed internationally for that purpose.

How IPv9 Works

IPv9 uses a 256-bit address space, but unlike IPv6 which uses hexadecimal notation (e.g., 2001:0db8:85a3::8a2e:0370:7334), IPv9 addresses are expressed in decimal numbers, separated by dots. For example, an IPv9 address might look like 123.456.789.012.345.678.901.234.567.890.123.456.789.012.345.678.901.234 – a long string of decimal numbers.

The addressing scheme is hierarchical, with different segments used for network, sub-network, and host identifiers. The protocol also includes its own routing and domain name resolution systems, which are not compatible with the standard internet protocols. This means that an IPv9 network cannot directly communicate with the global internet without translation gateways.

Key Features and Differences

Compared to IPv4 and IPv6, IPv9 has several distinct characteristics:

• Address length: 256 bits, which is longer than IPv4 (32 bits) and IPv6 (128 bits), allowing for an astronomically large number of addresses.
• Notation: Decimal, rather than hexadecimal, which is more familiar to humans but less compact.
• Domain name system: Uses a separate root DNS, with domain names like .cn9 or .chinese instead of the global .com or .org.
• Independence: Designed to be fully self-contained, with its own standards for routing, naming, and security, not relying on global internet governance.

Development and Trials

In 2004, China announced the development of IPv9 and claimed to have deployed it in a test network. Reports indicated that some Chinese government agencies and military units used IPv9 for internal communications. However, details were sparse, and many international experts were skeptical about the project’s viability.

In 2006, the Chinese government released a set of standards for IPv9, but they were not widely adopted by industry. Trials were conducted in a few cities, but the network remained largely isolated and did not connect to the global internet. The project received little international recognition, and by the 2010s, attention shifted to IPv6 deployment, which China pursued aggressively.

Why It Didn’t Succeed

Several factors contributed to IPv9’s failure to gain traction:

• Technical incompatibility: IPv9 was not interoperable with the existing internet, requiring complex translation mechanisms that were inefficient and costly.
• Lack of ecosystem: No major hardware or software vendors supported IPv9, making it impractical for general use.
• International isolation: The global internet community did not recognize IPv9, so it could not connect to the wider web without gateways.
• IPv6 adoption: IPv6, which was already standardized and supported by major vendors, offered a simpler solution to address exhaustion.
• Political and economic factors: The project was seen as a political statement rather than a practical technology, and it lacked the investment and industry backing needed to succeed.

Current Status and Legacy

As of the early 2020s, IPv9 is largely considered a dormant or abandoned project. There are no active large-scale deployments, and it is not used by any major internet service providers. China has fully embraced IPv6, with the government mandating its deployment across the country. The IPv9 project remains a footnote in internet history, though it occasionally resurfaces in discussions about internet sovereignty and alternative networking technologies.

Some researchers still study IPv9 as an example of a state-led attempt to create an independent internet. Its legacy is more about the political and strategic motivations behind it than about its technical merits. The project highlighted concerns about the concentration of internet control and sparked debates about the need for a more distributed governance model.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is IPv9 the same as IPv6?

No. IPv6 is a standardized protocol with 128-bit hexadecimal addresses, widely deployed globally. IPv9 is a separate, non-standard protocol with 256-bit decimal addresses, developed in China and not used internationally.

Why was it called IPv9 if there is no IPv7 or IPv8?

The name “IPv9” was chosen by its developers, possibly to signify a leap forward beyond IPv4 and IPv6. It does not correspond to any official version numbering by the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force).

Did China ever use IPv9 on the public internet?

No. IPv9 was only used in isolated test networks, primarily within government and military environments. It never connected to the global internet as a mainstream protocol.

Could IPv9 be revived in the future?

It is unlikely, given the massive investment in IPv6 and the lack of industry support for IPv9. However, the idea of a sovereign internet could resurface in different forms, but not specifically as IPv9.

Why did China pursue IPv9 instead of just using IPv6?

IPv6 was developed under international standards bodies, which China felt gave the US and other Western countries too much influence. IPv9 was an attempt to create a completely independent network that would not be subject to external control.

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