Dear SIG members,
A new proposal "prop-165-v001: Provision of IPv4 Address Space to IPv6-only
Networks for Transitional Purpose"
has been sent to the Policy SIG for review.
It will be presented at the Open Policy Meeting (OPM) at APNIC 60 on Thursday,
11 September 2025.
https://conference.apnic.net/60/program/program/index.html#/day/8/
<https://conference.apnic.net/59/programme/programme/index.html#/day/8/>
We invite you to review and comment on the proposal on the mailing list before
the OPM.
The comment period on the mailing list before the OPM is an important part of
the Policy Development Process (PDP).
We encourage you to express your views on the proposal:
- Do you support or oppose this proposal?
- Does this proposal solve a problem you are experiencing? If so,
tell the community about your situation.
- Do you see any disadvantages in this proposal?
- Is there anything in the proposal that is not clear?
- What changes could be made to this proposal to make it more effective?
Information about this proposal is appended below as well as available at:
https://www.apnic.net/community/policy/proposals/prop-165/
Regards,
Bertrand, Shaila, and Ching-Heng
APNIC Policy SIG Chairs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
prop-165-v001: Provision of IPv4 Address Space to IPv6-only Networks for
Transitional Purpose
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposers: Tomohiro Fujisaki ([email protected])
Hiroki Kawabata ([email protected])
1. Problem statement
--------------------
This proposal seeks to allow organizations that meet the criteria for receiving
IPv6 Provider
Aggregatable (PA) address space to also receive a limited IPv4 allocation,
specifically a /24
block, upon request. The aim is to facilitate the deployment of IPv6-only
networks, which still
require limited IPv4 resources for transitional purposes such as DNS resolution.
2. Objective of policy change
-----------------------------
The proposal is based on the following considerations:
• Increasing Adoption of IPv6-Only Networks:
While IPv6-only networks are gaining traction, many essential Internet
services—such as DNS,
email gateways, or external monitoring—still require limited IPv4 connectivity.
This policy enables
IPv6-only network operators to obtain minimal IPv4 resources for such
transitional needs.
• Difficulty in Meeting IPv4 Allocation Criteria:
Entities building new IPv6-only networks may find it difficult to meet current
APNIC criteria for IPv4
address allocation. Given that IPv6 allocations are often readily granted to
existing IPv4 holders, it
is reasonable to offer a reciprocal policy that provides minimal IPv4 space to
new IPv6 operators.
• Paradigm Shift Towards IPv6:
APNIC policy already allows IPv6 address allocations without requiring IPv6
deployment justification from
existing IPv4 holders. This proposal introduces a similar policy in reverse,
marking a step forward in
aligning IPv6 and IPv4 policy frameworks and encouraging broader IPv6
deployment.
3. Situation in other regions
-----------------------------
No similar policy currently exists in other RIRs, though the operational need
for transitional IPv4
use in IPv6-only networks is recognized. This proposal may serve as a model for
other RIRs seeking to
support IPv6 deployment.
4. Proposed policy solution
---------------------------
- Organizations qualifying for IPv6 PA allocations may request an IPv4 /24.
- Allocation is only for IPv6 PA holders (not PI).
- The IPv4 block must be used only for IPv6-only network support.
- The block is non-transferable and cannot be leased.
- Additional usage restrictions apply in accordance with current APNIC policies.
5. Advantages / Disadvantages
-----------------------------
Advantages:
- Encourages real-world IPv6-only deployment.
- Provides practical support with minimal IPv4 resource usage.
- Aligns IPv4 and IPv6 policy logic.
Disadvantages:
- Slight increase in IPv4 allocations (limited to /24).
- Requires APNIC to enforce usage restrictions.
6. Impact on resource holders
-----------------------------
Minimal impact expected. Only a single /24 allocation per eligible IPv6 PA
applicant, with restrictions to prevent misuse.
7. References
-------------_______________________________________________
SIG-policy - https://mailman.apnic.net/[email protected]/
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