Policy to Change the Allocation and Assignment Period to 12 months | AFPUB-2007-GEN-001

1) Incentive

In the very changing environment of the Internet and related services it is generally difficult to precisely plan IP addresses usage two years ahead. Further to that AfriNIC members may at the moment appear to have an unfair advantage over those in other regions. This will mean that all LIRs will plan their address space needs within the same time frames.

2) Introduction

This proposal suggests that AfriNIC should start allocating/assigning enough IPv4 and IPv6 address space to last a member's 1 year addressing needs (as opposed to currently 2, as is the practice).

3) Abstract

Current IPv4/v6 policy does not explicitly mention a timeframe that AfriNIC requires its members to plan for when requesting IP address space. The practice however is to allocate/assign enough IP address space to satisfy a member's two year requirements. This period is shorter in most of the other regions:

• ARIN: 6 months
• APNIC: 12 months
• LACNIC: 3 months
• RIPE: 24 months

4) Motivation

Fairness

Having a different allocation/assignment period could be seen as offering advantages to LIRs in one region over those in another. With a shorter allocation/assignment period, a member can only plan for the short term, whereas others will have more flexibility in terms of their planning. AfriNIC members may at the moment appear to have an unfair advantage over those in other regions. This will mean that all LIRs will plan their address space needs within the same time frames in all regions.

More accurate allocation based on real needs

With evaluation based on one year needs, it will be easy for LIR to precise in their needs statement. It will also contribute to speed up the evaluation process by AfriNIC's IP analysts as they won't have to assess too much new services which are not yet implemented but only planed (in two years period time) by the requestor.

Currently there are similar proposals in the LACNIC and RIPE regions to change this period to one year. ARIN has also adopted a similar policy.

5) Summary

In view of the above criteria, AfriNIC should allocate/assign enough IPv4 and IPv6 address space to last a member's 1 year addressing needs.