[sig-policy] prop-055-v001: Global policy for the allocation of the remaining IPv4 address space

[Randy Bush <randy@psg.com>]

Dear SIG members:

[ posted by co-chair as chair is co-author of proposal ]

The proposal 'Global policy for the allocation of the remaining IPv4
address space' has been sent to the Policy SIG for review. It will be
presented during the Policy SIG sessions at APNIC 25 in Taipei,
Taiwan, 25-29 February 2008.

The proposal's history can be found at:

     http://www.apnic.net/policy/proposals/prop-055-v001.html

We invite you to review and comment on the proposal on the mailing list
before the meeting.

The comment period on the mailing list before an APNIC meeting is an
important part of the policy development process. We encourage you to:

     - Ask the proposer questions if anything in the proposal is
       unclear
     - Point out advantages and disadvantages you see in the proposal
     - State whether you support or oppose the proposal

Mailing list discussions will be taken into account when the proposal
is discussed at the upcoming APNIC meeting. So please make sure you have
your say.

APNIC Policy SIG Chairs
Toshiyuki Hosaka
Randy Bush
Jian Zhang
________________________________________________________________________

prop-055-v001: Global policy for the allocation of the remaining IPv4
                address space
________________________________________________________________________

Authors:    Roque Gagliano, ANTEL
            Francisco Obispo, CENIT
            Haitham EL Nakhal, MCIT
            Didier Allain Kla, ISOC Cote d'Ivoire
            JPNIC IPv4 countdown policy team:
              - Akinori Maemura
              - Akira Nakagawa
              - Izumi Okutani
              - Kosuke Ito
              - Kuniaki Kondo
              - Shuji Nakamura
              - Susumu Sato
              - Takashi Arano
              - Tomohiro Fujisaki
              - Tomoya Yoshida
              - Toshiyuki Hosaka
Version:   1
Date:      23 January 2007

1.  Introduction
----------------
The exhaustion of IPv4 address space is projected to take place within
the next few years. This proposal seeks to focus on measures that should
be taken globally in the address management area in order to prepare for
the situation in all RIR regions.


2.  Summary of current problem
------------------------------
To continue applying a global coordinated policy for distribution of the
last piece(s) of each RIR's unallocated address block does not match the
reality of the situation in each RIR region.

Issues each RIR region will face during the exhaustion period vary by
region as the level of development of IPv4 and IPv6 are widely
different. As a result, applying a global co-ordinated policy may not
adequately address issues in a certain region while it could be work for
the others.

For example, in a region where late comers desperately need even small
blocks of IPv4 addresses to access to the IPv4 Internet, a policy that
defines the target of allocations/assignments of IPv4 address space to
be late comers would be appropriate in such region. This would allow
availablilty of IPv4 address space for such requirements for more years.

Another example comes from difference in IPv6 deployment rate. For a
region where IPv6 deployment rate is low, measures may be necessary to
prolong IPv4 address life for the existing business as well as for new
businesses until networks are IPv6 ready. Some regions may have strong
needs to secure IPv4 address space for translators.

A globally coordinated policy which addresses all the issues listed
above to meet the needs for all RIR regions may result in not solving
issues in any of the regions.


3.   Situation in other RIRs
----------------------------
This proposal will be submitted to all RIRs. It is a collaboration
between the authors of the previous proposals:

    prop-046: IPv4 countdown policy proposal
    prop-051: Global policy for the allocation of the remaining IPv4
              address space

These two proposals were deemed by a number of people in the RIR
communities to be similar; and at the ARIN XXI meeting, the authors of
both proposals were asked to work together to produce a single
proposal.


4.   Details of the proposal
----------------------------
This policy describes the process for the allocation of the remaining
IPv4 space from IANA to the RIRs. When a minimum amount of available
space is reached, one /8 will be allocated from IANA to each RIR,
replacing the current IPv4 allocation policy.

In order to fulfill the requirements of this policy, at the time it is
adopted, one /8 will be reserved by IANA for each RIR. The reserved
allocation units will no longer be part of the available space at the
IANA pool. IANA will also reserve one /8 to any new RIR at the time it
is recognized.

The process for the allocation of the remaining IPv4 space is divided in
two consecutive phases:

     4.1. Existing Policy Phase:

        During this phase IANA will continue allocating IPv4 addresses
	to  he RIRs using the existing allocation policy. This phase
	will continue until a request for IPv4 address space from any
	RIR to IANA either cannot be fulfilled with the remaining IPv4
	space available at the IANA pool or can be fulfilled but leaving		the 
IANA remaining IPv4 pool empty.

        This will be the last IPv4 address space request that IANA will
        accept from any RIR. At this point the next phase of the process
        will be initiated.

     4.2. Exhaustion Phase:

        IANA will automatically allocate the reserved IPv4 allocation
        units to each RIR (one /8 to each one) and respond to the last
        request with the remaining available allocation units at the
        IANA pool (M units).

        4.2.1. Size of the final IPv4 allocations:

               During this phase IANA will automatically allocate one
               /8 to each RIR from the reserved space defined in this
               policy. IANA will also allocate M allocation units to
               the RIR that submitted the last request for IPv4
               addresses.

        4.2.2. Allocation of the remaining IPv4 Address space:

               After the completion of the evaluation of the final
               request for IPv4 addresses, IANA MUST:

               A) Immediately notify the NRO about the activation of the
                  second phase of this policy.

               B) Proceed to allocate M allocation units to the RIR that
                  submitted the last request for IPv4 address space.

               C) Proceed to allocate one /8 to each RIR from the
                  reserved space.



5.   Advantages and disadvantages of the proposal
-------------------------------------------------
Advantages:

- It allows each RIR community to define a policy on how to distribute
  the last piece(s) of allocations which best matches their situation.


Disadvantages:

- Concerns could be raised about allocating a fixed size to all RIRs,
  that it artificially fastens the consumption rate of some RIR
  regions.  However, its impact is kept to minimum by keeping the
  allocation size to a single /8 which makes merely 3-4 months
  difference.

- Concerns could be raised that explicitly allowing regional policies
  will encourage RIR shopping. However, this should not happen if the
  requirements within each region is adequately reflected in each RIR's
  policy through PDP. RIR may also chose to add criteria to prevent
  LIRs from other regions submitting such requests.


6.   Effect on APNIC members
----------------------------
APNIC members will be able to define  a policy on how to distribute the
last piece(s) of allocations which best matches the situation in AP
region.


7.   Effect on NIRs
-------------------
The effect on APNIC members applies to members of NIRs. NIRs are
therefore expected to inform their communities of the situation.