Deployment of WIDE IPv6 network

1996 - started with 64k leased lines
We are trying to avoid tunnels from day one
1997 - steal bandwidth from IPv4 backbone (ATM pipes)
1998 - JB: nationwide ATM research network, funded by government
With IPv6 we can get circuits cheap :-P
2000 - 200 to 300Mbps class IPv6 native backbone, nationwide
2002 - Gbps-class native backbone, nationwide
2004 - 10Gbps-class native backbone, nationwide/trans-pacific

Researchers have trouble with tight IPv4 address allocation policies
IPv6 is the solution for them!
30Mbps digital video multicast traffic, for remote classrooms (Wisconsin - Yokohama)
MP3 audio over multicast + IPsec, xcast (small group multicast), IPv4/v6 over satellite medium, diffserv experiments/operations
Of course, routing experiments/operations - OSPFv3/BGP4+

Early deployment = more experience than others = advantage