APNIC Allocation of Global Unicast IPv6 Address Space to "unconnected" Networks

APNIC Document identity
Title:	APNIC allocation of global unicast IPv6 address space to "unconnected" networks
Short title:	ipv6-policy-clarification
Document ref:	APNIC-108	Version:	001
Date of original publication:	November 2003	Date of this version:	November 2003
Review scheduled:	n/a	Obsoletes:	n/a
Status:	Active	Comments:	n/a

APNIC Allocation of Global Unicast IPv6 Address Space to "unconnected" Networks

Summary

In making IPv6 allocations, the RIRs currently work from a single policy document - the common "IPv6 Address Allocation and Assignment Policy" (published as document APNIC-089).

It has been noted that the RIRs have adopted different practices in interpreting this policy document, in particular the issue of IPv6 allocations to "unconnected" networks, where the network is not to be connected to the Global IPv6 Internet. It has been noted that the interpretation made by the APNIC Secretariat in this respect included "unconnected" networks within the scope of this policy.

The APNIC Executive Council, in their review of this situation, is publishing this notice as an interim clarification on the APNIC interpretation of IPv6 allocations to closed networks.

This notice is to the effect that:

While this notice is in force, APNIC will allocate global IPv6 space to organizations in accordance with the criteria stated in the IPv6 Allocation and Assignment Policy to both networks that are to be connected to the global IPv6 Internet and to unconnected networks.
The IPv6 Allocation and Assignment Policy is to be referred to the APNIC Open Policy Forum, with a request for explicit clarification of the policy with respect to connected and unconnected networks. The outcomes from this process will then be adopted by APNIC, at which time this interim notice will lapse.

Background

The common "IPv6 Address Allocation and Assignment Policy" adopted by all RIRs (published by APNIC as document APNIC-089), states that IPv6 allocations are made to organisations meeting the following criteria:

5.1.1.  Initial allocation criteria

To qualify for an initial allocation of IPv6 address space, an
organization must:

a) be an LIR;
b) not be an end site;
c) plan to provide IPv6 connectivity to organizations to which it
   will assign /48s, by advertising that connectivity through its
   single aggregated address allocation; and
d) have a plan for making at least 200 /48 assignments to other
   organizations within two years.

It is noted that there is no explicit reference in this criteria for the organization to connect to the global IPv6 Internet. It is unclear whether the original proponents of this allocation policy intended that this policy explicitly refer only to public networks that connect to the global IPv6 Internet, or whether the scope for other forms of deployment were encompassed within this criteria. The document refers only to the provision of connectivity to other organizations, and while it states that such connectivity will be advertised as an aggregated announcement, there is no mention of the context of this aggregate advertisement.

In surveying the manner in which this criteria has been interpreted by the other RIRs, it has been established that ARIN and LACNIC have both decided that they will not make IPv6 allocations for unconnected networks, and the RIPE NCC have stated that allocations are made on a case-by-case basis.

The APNIC Secretariat has interpreted the IPv6 policy document in a manner that allows allocations to networks that that are unconnected but that otherwise meet the relevant allocation criteria.

One such allocation has been made to date, when the APNIC Secretariat received a request for IPv6 address space for a large network that was not to be immediately connected with the Internet. APNIC hostmaster staff assessed and approved the request on consideration of all relevant factors. In particular, the "connected status" of the network was not regarded as grounds for refusal of the request.

This difference of interpretation of the common IPv6 policy has been raised within the global IPv6 policy discussion as to whether unconnected networks can receive allocations from the RIRs.

The Executive Council has considered the matter and believes that the appropriate mechanism to use to clarify this aspect of the IPv6 Allocation and Assignment policy is that of the APNIC-hosted Open Policy Forum. However it is recognised that the Open Policy Forum will need some time to gain consensus on a clearer framework for such allocations, and that it is necessary that IPv6 address allocation requests be processed by APNIC hostmaster staff in the interim in a consistent and clear fashion.

Interim Clarification Notice

While this notice is in force, APNIC will allocate global IPv6 space to organizations in accordance with the criteria stated in the IPv6 Allocation and Assignment Policy to both networks that are to be connected to the global IPv6 Internet and to unconnected networks, applying the criteria as laid out in that document in the same manner to all applicants. All such allocations made under this interim notice shall be regarded as valid allocations, and shall not be rescinded by APNIC in any subsequent change to the IPv6 allocation and assignment policy.

The IPv6 Allocation and Assignment Policy is to be referred to the APNIC Open Policy Forum, with a request for explicit clarification of the policy with respect to connected and unconnected networks. The outcomes from this process will then be adopted by APNIC, at which time this interim notice will lapse.