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prop-111-v001: Request-based expansion of IPv6 default allocation size
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Author:       Tomohiro Fujisaki
              fujisaki@syce.net


1. Problem statement
--------------------

   Currently, IPv6 minimum allocation size to LIRs is defined as /32 in
   the "IPv6 address allocation and assignment policy", while APNIC
   currently reserves up to /29 for each /32 allocation. It's better to
   expand this minimum allocation size up to /29 since:

   - For traffic control purpose, some LIRs announce address blocks
     longer than /32 (e.g. /35). However, some ISPs set filters to block
     address size longer than /32. If LIRs have multiple /32, they can
     announce these blocks and its reachability will be better than
     longer prefix.

   - If an LIR needs address blocks larger than /32, LIRs may tend to
     announce as a single prefix if a /29 is allocated initially at
     once. i.e., total number of announced prefixes in case 1 may be
     smaller than in case 2.

     case 1:
     The LIR obtains /29 at the beginning of IPv6 network construction.

     case 2:
     The LIR obtains /32, and /31, /30 additionally with the subsequent
     allocation mechanism.

   - Before sparse allocation mechanism implemented in late 2008, /29
     was reserved for all /32 holders by sequence allocation mechanism
     in the early years. It is possible to use these reserved
     blocks efficiently with this modification.


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

   This proposal modifies the eligibility for an organization to receive
   an initial IPv6 allocation up to a /29 by request basis.


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

   RIPE-NCC:
   The policy "Extension of IPv6 /32 to /29 on a per-allocation vs
   per-LIR basis" is adopted in RIPE-NCC and LIRs in RIPE region can get
   up to /29 by default.


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

   - Change the text to "5.2.2 Minimum initial allocation size" of
     current policy document as below:

     Organizations that meet the initial allocation criteria are
     eligible to receive an initial allocation of /32. For allocations
     up to /29 no additional documentation is necessary.

   - Add following text in the policy document:

     for Existing IPv6 address space holders

     LIRs that hold one or more IPv6 allocations are able to request
     extension of each of these allocations up to a /29 without meeting
     the utilization rate for subsequent allocation and providing
     further documentation.


5. Explain the advantages of the proposal
-----------------------------------------

   - It will be possible for LIRs to control traffic easier.
   - It is possible to use current reserved blocks efficiently.


6. Explain the disadvantages of the proposal
--------------------------------------------

   Some people may argue this will lead to inefficient utilization of
   IPv6 space. However, the space up to /29 is reserved by APNIC
   secretariat for each /32 allocation.


7. Impact on resource holders
-----------------------------
   NIRs must implement this policy if it is implemented by APNIC.