BEIJING, June 6 -- French company 6WIND launched a research and development (R&D) centre in Beijing yesterday to more effectively capitalize on the IPv6 market in China.

    The leading provider of key IPv6 networking software will increase its headcount in the centre from six to 25 by the end of this year, but declined to specify the amount invested.

    The new centre aims to enhance the speed of delivery of its software products to local customers, said Alain Daste, chief executive officer of 6WIND.

    "With the help of our software, clients here can develop their networking equipment and systems more quickly," he said.

    Daste also attributed the launch of the centre in Beijing to the opportunities brought by the good IPv6 technology environment in China.

    IPv6, the sixth version of Internet protocol, is the next-generation Internet technology and will integrate the Internet, wireless and mobile communications networks.

    "The ecosystem for the IPv6 community and industry is gaining momentum, especially in Asia and China," said Jesse Zhang, managing director of 6WIND China.

    China has built up its CERNET (China Education and Research Network) 1 and 2, two IPv6-based backbone networks, together with Chinese telecoms operators.

    In May 2005, the Ministry of Information Industry and the French Ministry of Industry signed a memorandum of understanding on IPv6 co-operation between the two countries.

    Zhang said: "China and other Asian countries are far ahead of anywhere else in the world in terms of technology applications, which is illustrated by the popularity of text messaging and peer-to-peer technologies."

    6WIND has strong expertise in the development of value-added applications for IPv6 technology and can help Chinese customers make the transition from IPv4, which is in use on the current Internet, to IPv6, he said.

    The Beijing R&D centre will work closely with the company's local customers and research institutions, like the Chinese Academy of Science, and universities.