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prop-160-v002: Change IPv6 Initial assignment to /44 for Organizations Eligible for multihoming

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Proposer: Md. Rafeeun Noby Babir (rnbabir@gmail.com)
                 Muhammad Redwanul Karim (redwanul@gmail.com)


1. Problem Statement
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The current minimum Initial IPv6 assignments is a /48 prefix. While this provides a significant pool of addresses, it can create challenges for organizations implementing multihoming and managing multiple sites, particularly for those that are new to IPv6. 

Organizations that qualify for a multihoming IPv4 assignments have demonstrably justified a requirement for more than a single /48 IPv6 address pool.

A /48 prefix can be cumbersome to subnet efficiently for deployments across various locations or with multiple internet service providers (ISPs) in a multihomed environment. This can discourage organizations, especially new adopters of IPv6, from transitioning due to concerns about address space management complexity.

2. Objective of policy change
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This proposal advocates for changing the initial assignments of IPv6 address blocks to /44 from /48 for organizations that are eligible for a multihoming assignments under the current APNIC policies. 
This proposal aims to achieve greater alignment between IPv6 assignments and IPv4 delegations [5].
As per the APNIC Fee Schedule, no additional fee [3] would be required for this increased assignments.

3. Situation in other regions
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ARIN: Similar policy has been adopted  (6.5.8.2. Initial Assignment Size) [2]. More than 1 but less than or equal to 12 sites justified, receives a /44 assignment.


4. Proposed Policy Change
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Current Policy text :

8.2. Initial IPv6 allocations [1]
8.2.1. Account holders with existing IPv4 space
An account holder that has an IPv4 allocation is eligible for a /32 IPv6 address block.
An account holder that has an IPv4 assignment is eligible for a /48 IPv6 address block

9.1.1. IPv6 for multihoming [6]
An applicant is eligible to receive a portable assignment from APNIC if it is currently, or plans to be, multihomed.
The minimum assignment made under these terms is /48.



Policy text will be changed :

8.2.1. Account holders with existing IPv4 space
An account holder that has an IPv4 allocation is eligible for a /32 IPv6 address block.
An account holder that has an IPv4 assignment is eligible for a /48 IPv6 address block.

*An account holder that has an IPv4 assignment and has multihomed network infrastructure is eligible for a /44 IPv6 address block.

9.1.1. IPv6 for multihoming
*An applicant is eligible to receive a portable assignment from APNIC if it is currently, or plans to be, multihomed.
The minimum assignment made under these terms is /44.



5. Advantages / Disadvantages
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Advantages:
Technical Alignment: Elimination of current technical limitations of /48 IPv6 announcement in multihomed infrastructure.
Improved Efficiency for Multihoming and Multi-site Deployments: A /44 prefix offers greater flexibility for organizations to subnet and manage their address space effectively across multiple locations or ISPs in a multihomed environment.
Encouraging IPv6 Adoption: Incentivize new organizations to adopt IPv6, accelerating the overall transition within the region, increases APNIC member’s awareness of IPv6 eligibility.

Disadvantages:
No known disadvantages found 



6. References
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[1] Section 8.2 Initial IPv6 assignmentss.
https://www.apnic.net/community/policy/resources#a_h_8_2

[2] IPv6 Address assignments and Assignment Policies for the ARIN Region 
https://www.arin.net/participate/policy/nrpm/nrpm.txt

[3] APNIC Fee Calculation 
https://www.apnic.net/about-apnic/corporate-documents/documents/membership/member-fee-schedule/

[4] New Member fee examples 
https://www.apnic.net/get-ip/get-ip-addresses-asn/

[5] Section 6.1. Minimum and maximum IPv4 delegations
https://www.apnic.net/community/policy/resources#a_h_6_1

[6] Section 9.1.1. IPv6 for multihoming
https://www.apnic.net/community/policy/resources#a_h_9_1_1