The industry skipped from IPv4 to IPv6, leaving IPv5 and the Internet Stream Protocol to the annals of history — a data streaming experiment rendered unnecessary by broadband

The tech industry bypassed IPv5 and the Internet Stream Protocol, moving directly from IPv4 to IPv6 due to the explosive growth of the Internet and the need for more IP addresses. IPv6, introduced in 1989, offers significantly more addresses and enhanced features like IPsec security and mobile device support. Despite the advantages of IPv6, some companies still cling to IPv4, leading to a high demand for IPv4 addresses. IPv5 was an experimental protocol designed for real-time streaming but became obsolete with the advent of broadband technology, making IPv6 the logical successor to IPv4.