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prop-159-v001: Reduction of minimum IPv6 allocation size form /32 to /36

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Proposer: Christopher Munz-Michielin (chris@freerangecloud.com)


1. Problem statement
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As outlined in secion 8.1 of the "APNIC Internet Number Resource Policies" - "The minimum allocation size for IPv6 address space is /32."  Correspondingly, in section 8.2.1, accounts with existing V4 allocations are alos required to take a minimum allocation of a /32 of IPv6 space - "An account holder that has an IPv4 allocation is eligible for a /32 IPv6 address block."

In section 6.1, new LIR accounts (after Februrary, 2019) are only entitled to receive a maxium allocation of a /23 of IPv4 space - "Since Thursday, 28 February 2019, each APNIC account holder is only eligible to receive IPv4 address delegations totalling a maximum /23 from the APNIC 103/8 IPv4 address pool."

Based on the way APNIC calculates fees (outlined in the APNIC Member Fee Schedule, document ref APNIC-120) an LIR formed after 2019 with the maximum IPv4 allocation size and no IPv6 allocation would end up paying AUD $1,546.

If that same LIR was to request an IPv6 allocation and were awarded the minimum size of a /32, they would end up paying AUD $2025 - a roughly 30% fee increase.


2. Objective of policy change
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By reducing the minimum IPv6 allocation size for LIRs from a /32 to a /36, an LIR formed after 2019 holding the maximum IPv4 allocation of a /23 would not be forced to pay increased fees in order to request IPv6.


3. Situation in other regions
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- In ARIN the minimum IPv6 allocation size is a /40
- In RIPE, fees are not charged based on allocation sizes
- AFRINIC instituted a special policy so existing IPv4 resource holders will not pay additional fees to deploy IPv6

4. Proposed policy solution
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I am proposing that section 8.1 be revised to state "The minimum allocation size for IPv6 address space is /36."

additionally, I am proposing that section 8.2.1 be revised to state "An account holder that has an IPv4 allocation is eligible for a /36 IPv6 address block."

5. Advantages / Disadvantages
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Advantages:
The advantage is that small LIRs, or LIRs formed after 2019 would not face 30% higher fees to request an IPv6 allocation.  This may spur IPv6 adoption in the region.

Disadvantages:

6. Impact on resource holders
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This would not effect any existing resource holders, only LIRs who are requesting new IPv6 allocations.

7. References
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- ARIN policy: https://www.arin.net/resources/fees/fee_schedule/
- Afrinic policy: https://afrinic.net/membership/cost#resource
- APNIC fee calculator: https://www.apnic.net/get-ip/apnic-membership/how-much-does-it-cost/member-fees-calculator/?feeScheduleYear=2024&ipv4=%2F23&ipv6=%2F36&asn=2