IPv4 Exhaustion: Region by Region
IPv4 address exhaustion has occurred at different times across the five RIR regions. Understanding this timeline provides context for current market dynamics.
Exhaustion Timeline
- IANA: February 2011 - Last /8 blocks assigned to RIRs
- APNIC: April 2011 - Reached last /8, entered rationing mode
- RIPE NCC: September 2012 - Reached last /8; November 2019 - Completely exhausted
- LACNIC: June 2014 - Entered rationing phase
- ARIN: September 2015 - Free pool exhausted, waiting list established
- AFRINIC: 2020 - Entered final allocation phase
Post-Exhaustion Reality
Since exhaustion, the only way to obtain IPv4 addresses (other than very small RIR-rationed blocks) is through the transfer market. This has created a robust secondary market with several key characteristics:
- Prices have increased steadily since exhaustion
- Professional brokers and marketplaces have emerged
- RIRs have established formal transfer policies
- Leasing has become a viable alternative to purchasing
Regional Market Differences
Each region has unique supply-demand dynamics:
- ARIN region: Largest supply of legacy addresses, active market
- RIPE region: High demand from European ISPs and hosting providers
- APNIC region: Growing demand from Asian markets, particularly cloud providers
- LACNIC/AFRINIC: Emerging markets with increasing demand
Understanding these dynamics helps buyers and sellers make informed decisions. Our marketplace provides transparency across all regions.
