What problems can you face if you need to buy ipv4 space?

In the face of the exhaustion of IPv4, the only way to continue the development of the Internet will be to use IPv6 addresses. However, this is now fraught with organizational and financial difficulties, which can be considered in a separate article. Here we talk about IPv4.

In the short term, the following options are possible:

• Reallocation of existing IPv4 addresses. This applies to the largest ranges allocated in the early years of the development of the Internet, most of whose address space is not used. True, it is not always possible to redistribute them, since it involves organizational and legal aspects, however some organizations (Stanford University, the US Department of Defense and some others) have already done so. In addition, in theory, regional registrars may require the LIR to use address space usage data in order to return unused blocks to the common pool.

• Using NAT-technology providers. This is now common in some countries. However, this approach is associated with a number of inconveniences for the end user and is not always a convenient option;

• Resale of IPv4 addresses.

On the last paragraph we will dwell in more detail. Since IP addresses were always provided free of charge (although LIR pays membership fees), no one thought about whether they could be bought or sold. However, the harsh reality forced to consider and such an opportunity.

The regional registrars regulations contain a corresponding clause regarding the redistribution of IP addresses between the LIRs. According to him, the organization that transfers IP addresses should justify the need for them just as in the case when a request for additional addresses occurs.

The emergence of black market IPv4 addresses is already a reality. ICANN representatives themselves agreed that it exists and how to control it remains a question. Meanwhile, a platform appeared on the Internet for buying and selling and renting IPv4 addresses. According to brokers, the final cost of an IPv4 address ranges from 15 to 20 dollars.