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prop-161-v002: Using IPv6 for Internet of Things (IoT)

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Proposer: 
Guangliang Pan (Benny) (gpan123@hotmail.com)
Wei Wong (Wesley) (wesleywangbeijing@gmail.com)
Qiang Li (liqiang@xdns.cn)
Yaling Tan (tanyaling@hotmail.com)


1. Problem statement
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Internet of Things (loT) is part of the future Internet. However, there is no clear IPv6 policy for IoT in APNIC’s current policy environment. If a company doesn’t have IPv4, not a LIR, it is difficult for them to request IPv6 allocation for IoT services.
In some of the cases, the IoT industry needs to assign IPv6 to electronic smart devices as well as non-electronic items. The non-electronic items include company products and assets. IPv6 addresses will be used to host information of non-electronic items on the Internet for the purpose of identification, verification, and tracing. It is a bit difficult for APNIC Hostmasters to evaluate such IPv6 requests without a clear policy. 
This policy proposal aims to improve the IPv6 allocation policy to address the requirements from the IoT industry.

2. Objective of policy change
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Add a clear clause about how IPv6 can be allocated to Internet of Things in IPv6 policy.

3. Situation in other regions
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There are some discussions about “Need IPv6 in IoT” in other regions. RIPE NCC has an “Internet of Things Working Group”.


4. Proposed policy solution
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Add a new clause in IPv6 policy.
8.2.3 Using IPv6 for Internet of Things (IoT)
IPv6 addresses can be allocated to Internet of Things for electronic smart devices and/or for hosting information of non-electronic items on the Internet. Initial IPv6 allocation size for IoT will be set to the minimum IPv6 allocation size at the time of allocation.

5. Advantages / Disadvantages
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Advantages:
IPv6 has huge number of IP addresses and IoT needs huge number of IP addresses. It is a perfect match connects APNIC community with the IoT industry. Encourage using IPv6 for IoT will help IPv6 deployment in future Internet. We will create a real Internet of everything based on IPv6.

Disadvantages:
None
Not to worry about run out of IPv6. The original design of IPv6 was for Internet of Things. You often hear IPv6 can be assigned to every single sand in the world :) We can trust APNIC Hostmasters will do the evaluation properly.

6. Impact on resource holders
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No impacts to the current resource holders in the APNIC region.
More new members joining APNIC from the IoT industry will help to reduce the APNIC membership fee.


7. References
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