Alternative Re: ipv4/25s and above Re: 202211210951.AYC

Tue Nov 22 04:13:21 UTC 2022

Eric Kuhnke wrote:
> Assume the following theoretical scenario:
>
> You have a large number of existing RIPE, ARIN, APNIC ASes which will 
> take any ipv4 resources they can get. They're all on waiting lists or 
> have been informed no new blocks will be forthcoming.
>
> 240/4 is something like 256 million IPs.
>
> Let's say that the global benevolent ipv4 dictator decides that each 
> ISP, MNO or other waiting list entity gets a single /16, one time only.
>
> That's 64,000 IPs per corporate entity. Not actually very large at all 
> on the scale of regional mid sized operators with 300,000 last mile 
> broadband subscribers, or mobile network operators, nevermind 
> top-10-size DOCSIS3/GPON/DSL last mile operators that have many dozens 
> of millions of customers. One /16 is a tiny drop in the bucket 
> compared to the demand for IP space for indivudual-customer DHCP pool 
> usage by an ISP the size of Astound or a South Korean GPON operator or 
> similar.
>
> That's 4000 entities which each get their one time /16 and then 240/4 
> is entirely exhausted.
>
> Unrealistic?  Halve it so that each network operator waiting for IP 
> space reources gets one/ 17, one time only, I would still bet good 
> money that there's 8000 ASes out there that right now would happily 
> take their "free "single /17 , and you'd still have immediate complete 
> exhaustion of 240/8.
>
>
Right now the IPv4 scarcity is a barrier of entry to new entities and a 
major speedbump in basic growth to small entities.

So my constraint has much wider, lasting and meaningful impact than 
either of your thought exercises which essentially involve how to enable 
existing entities to resume business as usual for some amount of time. I 
am sure there many other much more meaningful ways to consider using 
240/4 than that.

New IPv4 resources to go towards addressing customers in the same 
fashion as was done ten years ago, I wouldn't bother with 240/4 for that 
either.

Best,

Joe