Governance
How do IANA and Regional Internet Registries work?
The collaboration between the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) and the Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) is essential for the efficient allocation of Internet number resources worldwide. IANA functions IANA operates under the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) an…
Headline
The collaboration between the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) and the Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) is essential for the efficient allocation of Internet number resources worldwide. IANA functions IANA operates under the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names…
Context
The collaboration between the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) and the Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) is essential for the efficient allocation of Internet number resources worldwide. IANA operates under the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and is responsible for managing global IP address space, AS number assignment, and protocol parameter allocation. IANA allocates IP address blocks to the five RIRs based on established global policies and guidelines.
Evidence
Pending intelligence enrichment.
Analysis
These allocations are made from the unallocated address space maintained by IANA. IANA also oversees the delegation of top-level domains (TLDs) and country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) in the Domain Name System (DNS). IANA works closely with the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and other technical communities to ensure the smooth operation of Internet protocols and standards. RIRs are independent organisations that currently hold the IP address registration database within specific geographic regions. Each RIR serves a designated region: ARIN for North America, RIPE NCC for Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia, APNIC for the Asia-Pacific region, LACNIC for Latin America and the Caribbean, and AFRINIC for Africa. RIRs receive IP address allocations from IANA and further distribute these addresses to Internet Service Providers (ISPs), organisations, and end-users within their regions. While the RIRs have developed and implemented regional policies for IP address allocation and registration to date, there is considerable debate about whether they are best suited for this role going forward. Also read: RIPE internet registry faces losses, needs to increase fees, but how?
Key Points
- IANA allocates global IP address space and blocks to RIRs, and assigns AS numbers to organisations for routing on the Internet.
- RIRs, such as ARIN, RIPE NCC, APNIC, LACNIC, and AFRINIC, receive IP address allocations from IANA and further distribute them within their respective regions.
- But there is debate about whether the RIRs are still suitable for the role, considering the depletion of IPv4 addresses and the ever-increasing fees they demand.
Actions
Pending intelligence enrichment.
