prop-050: IPv4 address transfers

Proposal text prop-050-v005
Synopsis This policy proposes removing APNIC policy restrictions on the transfer of registration of IPv4 address allocations and IPv4 portable address assignments between current APNIC account holders.
Current status Implemented on 10 February 2010.
Authors Geoff Huston
Philip Smith
Relevant forum Policy SIG
Previous versions prop-050-v001
prop-050-v002
prop-050-v003
prop-050-v004
Status at other RIRs AfriNIC currently has no similar policy or proposal under discussion.

ARIN: In 1 June 2009, ARIN implemented 2009-1: Transfer Policy.

LACNIC is currently discussing a transfer proposal, LAC-2009-04 Transfer of IPv4 Blocks within the LACNIC Region.

RIPE: RIPE has implemented a transfer policy in its region. See section 5.5, "Transfers of Allocations", of IPv4 Address Allocation and Assignment Policies for the RIPE NCC Service Region.

Proposal history
Date Description
26 July 2007 Version 1 announced on Policy SIG mailing list
6 September 2007 Version 1 presented at APNIC 24 Policy SIG. Proposal author did not seek consensus at APNIC 24 but planned to submit a second version of the proposal to the Policy SIG for further discussion at APNIC 25.
28 September 2007 Version 1 returned to mailing list for further development.
22 January 2008 Version 2 submitted to Policy SIG mailing list.

28 February 2008 Presented at the APNIC 25 Policy SIG. Author to revise proposal following discussion at the Policy SIG.

22 July 2008 Version 3 submitted to Policy SIG mailing list.
28 August 2008 Version 3 received majority support in the APNIC 26 Policy SIG but did not reach consensus.
29 August 2008 Version 3 returned to the author and the Policy SIG mailing list for further discussion.

26 February 2009 The proposal was modified and reached consensus on the following five points at APNIC 27.

APNIC will process IPv4 address transfer requests involving current account holders following the adoption of this proposed policy, subject to the following conditions:

  • 4.1  The minimum transfer size accepted will be a /24.
  • 4.4  APNIC is to maintain a public log of all transfers.
  • 4.5  Address transfers should be permitted between APNIC account holders and NIR members, if and when individual NIRs implement the transfer policy.
  • 4.6  Address transfers are permitted between APNIC account holders and other RIR account holders, following the policies of all the respective RIRs.
  • 4.7  This proposal to take effect as soon as the APNIC Secretariat can implement the mechanisms of the policy.
6 March 2009 Version 4, which includes the elements of the transfer proposal that reached consensus in the APNIC 27 Policy SIG, submitted to Policy SIG mailing list.
6 March 2009 – 1 May 2009 Version 4 in eight-week final call for comment period.

21 May 2009 Returned by APNIC EC to the Policy SIG mailing list for further discussion.

24 July 2009 Version 5 submitted to the Policy SIG mailing list for discussion.
27 August 2009 Reached consensus at the APNIC 28 Policy SIG.
28 August 2009 Reached consensus at the APNIC 28 AMM.
31 August – 26 October 2009 Version 5 in eight-week final call for comment period.

18 November 2009 Endorsed during the APNIC Executive Council (EC) teleconference.
11 January – 8 February 2010 Draft policy documentation open for comment:
News announcement:

Draft document:

10 February 2010 Implemented.