IPv4 Address Management [/caption]
It is very difficult to acquire IPv4 addresses these days due to the depletion of IPv4 resources. In addition, the random distribution of the IPv4 addresses makes the transfer process much complicated. There are five regional internet registries, namely APNIC, LACNIC, AFRINIC, ARIN, and RIPE NCC. These internet registries control the IPv4 address management inside the geographical areas allocated to them. For example, ARIN is responsible for IPv4 allocations in the US, Canada and many Caribbean and Northern Atlantic islands.
The availability of IPv4 addresses with the RIRs has depleted almost completely. However, some businesses still hold extra IPv4 addresses due to activities like mergers, acquisitions and the adoption of IPv6.
Owning An IP Address
For you to own an IP block, you will need to lease or buy an IPv4 address block. Leasing or buying an IP address block involves many steps. They are finding sellers, negotiating prices, transferring funds and changing ownership in the records of regional internet registries. As the availability of IPv4 addresses changes with regional internet registries, there is no guarantee that you will find an IP address seller in your RIR. In such situations, the process can be very time-consuming and complex.
As the IPv4 market is unorganized, it lacks a formal mechanism to regulate the prices of IPv4 addresses. Therefore, there are chances of jacking up the prices. This is especially true when different regional internet registries are involved. This makes the market shady. And the buyer can be at the risk of ending up with the wrong IPv4 broker or seller who can inflate the prices. The change of ownership of the IPs in the RIR registry takes place only after many complex technical and legal details. This can make the complete experience tiring for the buyer.
The Workflow Of IPv4 Transfer Process
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Regional Internet Registries [/caption]
Whether the IPv4 transfer takes place within the RIR or between RIRs, the prerequisites are about the same. If you wish to sell IPv4 addresses, the most important thing for you is to prove your legal entitlement over the IP address block. You may have to produce your ownership certificates or purchase deeds to your RIR for that. Also, there should not be any disputes or claims about the IP address block that you are wishing to transfer. Likewise, IP addresses that were transferred or procured within a year are not eligible to be transferred.
If you are a buyer, you need to convince your regional internet registry about the requirement for extra IP addresses. The RIR will issue a pre-approval after evaluating your current IP usage. They will also evaluate your growth rate and other reasons for the allocation of new IP address blocks. The pre-approval will be valid for two years. This can help the buyer make necessary arrangements for the IPv4 transfer and avoid last-minute confusion and worries.