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prop-127-v001: Change maximum delegation size of 103/8 IPv4 address 
pool to a /23

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Proposers: Ching-Heng Ku, Aftab Siddiqui, Yen-Chieh Wang
           chku@twnic.tw


1. Problem Statement
--------------------

This is a proposal to change the maximum size of IPv4 address delegations 
from the APNIC 103/8 IPv4 address pool [1] to a /23.

2. Objective of policy change
-----------------------------

The current final /8 allocation policy[1] requires that the current minimum 
delegation size for IPv4 is a /24 and each APNIC account holder is only eligible 
to receive IPv4 address delegations totalling a maximum /22 from the APNIC 103/8 
IPv4 address pool.

According to the APNIC IPv4 Address Report, https://ipv4.potaroo.net/, remaining 
addresses in the APNIC 103/8 pool are 42.8%, 33.3%, 23.4% of /8 in the end of 
2016, 2017, and 2018, respectively. The remaining number of APNIC 103/8 IPv4 
address pool for APNIC account holder is less and less. It is predicted that 
the 103/8 pool will be exhausted in 2020.

Reducing the maximum IPv4 delegation size from APNIC 103/8 IPv4 address pool can 
prolong the exhaustion time of the 103/8. Newcomers of APNIC account holders will 
have the benefit in this period of time. New companies can obtain some IPv4 address 
space in the APNIC service region without the need to trade for address space and 
can make the preparation for the subsequent IPv6 migration.

It is recommended that the number of assigned IPv4 addresses in Final /8 be reduced 
from a maximum of /22 to /23. It will be estimated to extend the exhaustion time 
for at least three years or more.

3. Situation in other regions
-----------------------------

There is no similar policy in place in other RIR regions.


4. Proposed policy solution
---------------------------

It is proposed to modify the 6.1 Minimum and maximum IPv4 delegations of the APNIC 
Internet Number Resource Policies[1].

This proposal is to change the maximum size of IPv4 address delegations from the 
APNIC 103/8 IPv4 address pool[1] to a /23. /23 is important because new ISPs can 
use /24 for internal infrastructure and /24 customer assignments and NAT for IPv6 
transition.

Current Policy text

Each APNIC account holder is only eligible to receive IPv4 address delegations 
totalling a maximum /22 from the APNIC 103/8 IPv4 address pool.

New Policy text

Each APNIC account holder without APNIC 103/8 IPv4 address delegations from the 
APNIC 103/8 IPv4 address pool is only eligible to receive a maximum /23 from the 
APNIC 103/8 IPv4 address pool.


5. Advantages / Disadvantages
-----------------------------

Advantages:
- This proposal allows a greater range of networks to access the resources in 
the final /8.

- This proposal extends the maximum possible total number of networks that can 
benefit from the final /8 pool from around 16,000 to around 18,000 networks, 
providing small amounts of IPv4 to be available for networks, developing economy, 
etc., making the transition to IPv6 for many years to come.

Disadvantages:
- No disadvantages are foreseen.


6. Impact on resource holders
-----------------------------

It reduces the maximum size of the delegated address block available to APNIC 
members during the final /8 phase. This will affect NIR members in the same way 
as APNIC members.


7. References
-------------

[1] Section 6.1. "Minimum and maximum IPv4 delegations" of "Policies for IPv4 address 
space management in the Asia Pacific region" 
https://www.apnic.net/community/policy/resources#Part-2-IPv4-Policy