--------------------------------------------------------------- prop-157-v002: Temporary IPv4 Transfers ---------------------------------------------------------------- Proposer: Jordi Palet Martinez (jordi.palet@theipv6company.com) 1. Problem statement -------------------- When in the community we discuss the need for leasing, understood broadly in any of its possible modalities, as one of the mechanisms to facilitate small sets of IPv4 addresses for the transition to IPv6, specially for new actors, there are mixed feelings about accepting the leasing or not. However, we are forgetting that there is already a mechanism, already accepted by the community, that could be slightly modified to be equivalent to a leasing, and yet have many advantages for both parties: temporary transfers. It is about guaranteeing compliance with the policies with a system equivalent to leasing, and that makes it easier to avoid security problems, keeping the control by the RIR/NIR, and the security of the return of the addresses when the leasing period concludes. At the same time, it seeks to cover the need to be flexible without excessive operational burden for the RIR/NIR, so that the leasing period can be simply extended, since it is understood that there may be situations in which the initially agreed period may be insufficient. It is important to emphasize that those who need these transfers, as a “leasing”, tend to be smaller entities or with more moderate initial investments and consequently are financially weaker. Therefore, given that the ultimate goal must be the deployment of IPv6, using IPv6-only and IPv4aaS, the number of IPv4 addresses that may be needed will be truly reduced. Finally, it seeks to prioritize the benefit of the region and therefore it makes sense that it is only applicable to operations carried out within the region. Furthermore, this prevents permanent transfers from losing reciprocity with those regions that require it. The EC could establish specific rates for this type of transfers and/or their extensions. 2. Objective of policy change ----------------------------- APNIC current policies only allow permanent IPv4 address transfers. This proposal specifies a change in the policy to allow temporary transfers. 3. Situation in other regions ----------------------------- As far as we know, only in RIPE NCC temporary transfers are allowed. At the same time, RIPE NCC does not contemplate leasing, but it does not explicitly prohibit it either. In AFRINIC and LACNIC, neither leasing nor temporary transfers are contemplated. However, an equivalent proposal has been submitted in LACNIC. Temporary transfers are not contemplated in ARIN, and leasing is not a valid justification of the need. When leasing addresses, no more addresses can be requested. Additionally, certain blocks cannot be leased. 4. Proposed policy solution --------------------------- Actual text: 11.0. IPv4 transfers … APNIC will maintain a public log of all number resource (IPv4, IPv6, ASN) transfers, including unused (market) transfer, merger and acquisitions, and historical resource transfer. 11.1. IPv4 transfers within the APNIC region APNIC will process and record IPv4 address transfer requests between current APNIC account holders subject to the following conditions. 11.1.1. Conditions on the space to be transferred The minimum transfer size is a /24. The address block must be: • In the range of addresses administered by APNIC • Allocated or assigned to a current APNIC account holder • The address block will be subject to all current APNIC policies from the time of transfer. • Addresses delegated from the 103/8 free pool cannot be transferred for a minimum of five years after the original delegation. 11.1.3. Conditions on recipient of the transfer The recipient will be subject to current APNIC policies. Recipients that do not already hold IPv4 resources must demonstrate a detailed plan for the use of the transferred resource within 24 months. Recipients that already hold IPv4 resources must: • Demonstrate a detailed plan for the use of the transferred resource within 24 months, • Show past usage rate, and • Provide evidence of compliance with APNIC policies with respect to past delegations. Proposed text: 11.0. IPv4 transfers … APNIC will maintain a public log of all number resource (IPv4, IPv6, ASN) transfers, including unused (market) transfer, merger and acquisitions, and historical resource transfer. In the case of temporary IPv4 transfers, a public log will contain the initial date of the transfer, as well as the final one. The final date must be updated if the transfer period is extended by agreement of both parties, which must be legitimized by APNIC. The extension must be anticipated by a minimum of 30 days before the previously agreed end-date. In the case of temporary transfers, APNIC will restore the original registration information in the Whois Database once the transfer period is over. 11.1. IPv4 permanent and temporary transfers within the APNIC region APNIC will process and record permanent and temporary IPv4 address transfer requests between current APNIC account holders subject to the following conditions. 11.1.1. Conditions on the space to be transferred The minimum transfer size is a /24. In case of temporary transfers, the maximum prefix (in total) that a single recipient can get, is a /22. The address block must be: • In the range of addresses administered by APNIC • Allocated or assigned to a current APNIC account holder • The address block will be subject to all current APNIC policies from the time of transfer. • Addresses delegated from the 103/8 free pool cannot be transferred for a minimum of five years after the original delegation. 11.1.3. Conditions on recipient of the transfer The recipient will be subject to current APNIC policies. Recipients that do not already hold IPv4 resources must demonstrate a detailed plan for the use of the transferred resource within 24 months. Recipients that already hold IPv4 resources must: • Demonstrate a detailed plan for the use of the transferred resource within 24 months, • Show past usage rate, and • Provide evidence of compliance with APNIC policies with respect to past delegations. In the case of temporary transfers, the plan for usage will match the initial expected transfer period, instead of 24 months. 11.1.4. Additional conditions for temporary transfers Temporary transfers are subjected to additional conditions, that must be warranted by the transfer contract among the parties: • Must include terms of immediate transfer cancellation in case of usage of the resources for network abuse. • The recipient must have an ASN to announce the transferred resources. • The recipient must have operational IPv6 when announcing the IPv4 transferred resources. • The recipient must have RPKI for the transferred resources. • The IRR and geolocation must be correctly updated. • The recipient must follow MANRS best practices. The source is responsible for the oversight of those conditions. APNIC will be able to establish operational practices to ensure compliance. In case of lack of due diligence by a source, even with different temporary transfers or recipients, APNIC will initiate a warning, which, if ignored will trigger the immediate revocation of the resources involved. 5. Advantages / Disadvantages ----------------------------- Advantages: It allows a way to obtain resources in a temporary basis, in order to facilitate the IPv6 deployment in a convenient and cheaper way than permanent transfers, which is especially important for smaller organizations and newcomers. Disadvantages: None. 6. Impact on resource holders ----------------------------- None. 7. References -------------