Internet Gold Extends its Technological Edge: 1st Israeli ISP to Support Next-Generation IPv6 Protocol

Internet Gold Extends its Technological Edge: 1st Israeli ISP to Support Next-Generation IPv6 Protocol

PETACH TIKVA, Israel, July 11/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Internet Gold (NASDAQ: IGLD) today announced that it has become the first Internet Service Provider (ISPs) in Israel and one of the few ISPs in the world to support IPv6, the Next Generation Internet Protocol. Having completed a year-long infrastructure upgrade process, the Company has now begun supporting the use of state-of-the art IPv6 services and devices by its business customers and will soon extend the same support to residential customers. Although the upgrade process required significant know-how and expertise on the part of the Company's Technology and Service Department, it did not require the purchase of new capital equipment because of the flexibility and sophistication of its existing network infrastructure.

To give customers maximum flexibility as they make the transition to IPv6 services, Internet Gold has deployed IPv6 on existing networks in parallel with IPv4, the legacy protocol. This is in contrast with most ISPs, who have taken the simpler route of installing separate new networks for IPv6, thereby eliminating a customer's ability to evolve gradually to the new platform.

"We are proud to be the first in Israel - and among the first in the world - to allow our customers to move ahead to IPv6 and to do so at their own pace," said Mr. Arik Alster, Vice President of Technology and Service of Internet Gold. IPv6 brings us closer to an exciting future of 'connect-everything' applications that will bring with them new levels of convenience, efficiency and safety. Even today, IPv6's advanced features - particularly its improved IP addressing, routing and autoconfiguration capabilities - will allow us to improve current services such as Multicast and Anycast and solve existing technological issues."

One of the primary advantages of the IPv6 protocol is its transition to a 128-bit IP address from the 32-bit address currently used by today's IPv4 protocol. This will cure the expected shortage of IP addresses, allowing for a virtually unlimited number of IP addresses in the future. With the ability to separately address and connect a virtually unlimited number of devices from individual cellphones and computers to home appliances, in-vehicle instruments and many others, it will be possible to implement a broad variety of futuristic "connect everything" applications. A few examples include: "Smart Homes," in which refrigerators communicate through the Internet with supermarkets and appliances communicate with maintenance services; "Smart Clothing" able to monitor vital signs and to report irregularities to emergency services; and office coffee makers that communicate with cars to know when to begin percolating. By promoting an explosion of connectivity and intelligence, IPv6 is making these and many other exciting Next Generation applications possible in the foreseeable future.

About -Internet Gold

Internet Gold is a communications company that provides Internet access and related value-added services, international telephony, e-advertising, content and e-Commerce services throughout Israel under the brand name "smile" to both residential and business customers.

Internet Gold's operations are carried out through four subsidiaries. Through MSN Israel, its (50.1% owned) joint-venture with Microsoft Corp. (49.9% owned), the Company operates several of Israel's Internet portals. Its fully-owned subsidiary, Internet Gold International, specializes in the provision of international Internet and communication services. Its fully-owned subsidiary, GoldMind, focuses on the provision of Internet value-added services. Through GoldTrade, its fully-owned e-Commerce subsidiary, the Company has established itself as one of Israel's leading e-Commerce providers.

For additional information about Internet Gold, please visit our Website at www.igld.com.

Certain statements made herein that use the words "estimate," "project," "intend," "expect," "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those which may be expressed or implied by such statements, including, among others, changes in general economic and business conditions and specifically, decline in demand for the Company's services, inability to timely develop and introduce new technologies, services and applications and loss of market share and pressure on prices resulting from competition. For additional information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties associated with the Company's business, reference is made to the Company's Annual Report and its other reports as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For further information, please contact:

Ms. Idit Azulay, Internet Gold +972-3-939-9848 idita@co.zahav.net.il

Source: Internet Gold

Ms. Idit Azulay, Internet Gold, Tel: +972-3-939-9848, idita@co.zahav.net.il

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