[address-policy-wg] ETNO comments on AD ratio for IPv4 addresses allocation

RIPE
 
Dear Sir, Madam,
 
ETNO, representing 41 major telecom operators from 34 European countries,
has studied the proposal to replace the fixed utilisation criteria of 80% in
IPv4 address space allocation, by criteria based on AD (Assignment Density)
ratio. Our conclusions are formulated in the attached Expert Contribution
EC064. The document is the unanimous opinion of ETNO Members represented in
the ETNO Frequency Management Working Group and has been endorsed by the
ETNO Board.
 
We are all prepared to discuss these comments in more detail and whenever
useful. ETNO will be pleased to contribute to the further development of
Europe’s views on the issue.
 
Best regards,
 
Michael Bartholomew
ETNO Director

-------------------------

September 2004


ETNO Expert Contribution on AD ratio for IPv4 addresses allocation

Executive Summary

ETNO (1) has considered the proposal to replace the fixed utilisation
criteria of 80% in IPv4 address space allocation, by a criteria based on AD
(Assignment Density) ratio.
ETNO strongly support the proposal and suggest selecting an AD ratio of
0.966.
ETNO further suggest to the RIRs to monitor the impact of this measure on
address consumption and periodically report on it to the addressing
community.


Background
During the RIPE 48 meeting in Amsterdam, a proposal was presented by APNIC
to replace the fixed utilisation criteria of 80% to request additional IPv4
addresses blocks, by a criteria based on "AD ratio" value. This ratio value
corresponds to a logarithmic scale and corresponds to a percentage
utilisation, which decreases as the size of the address space grows.
The presentation can be downloaded at:
http://www.ripe.net/ripe/meetings/ripe-48/presentations/ripe48-ap-hd-ratio.p
df

The decision was made to take the discussion to the RIPE Address-policy
working group mailing list and to ask for some feed back from the community.
As most European Telecommunications Network Operators' Association 1(ETNO)
members are large or extra-large Local Internet Registries in Europe,
representing an important part of these categories in the RIPE region, this
proposal was considered and analysed with attention.

Findings
1- This proposal fairly takes into account addressing hierarchies used in
large and extra-large registries and introduces a useful level of
flexibility for those registries.
2- The Local Internet Registries using the 80% criteria may continue to do
so and will not be impacted by the new policy.
3- Complicated calculation or administrative burden should be easily avoided
to registries choosing this method using simple chart or software through
LIR portal.
4- As analysed by APNIC, the impact on address consumption is limited to a
maximum around 20% and can be easily controlled and monitored using a rather
conservative approach (AD ratio of 0.966).
5- This impact can be partly counterbalanced by reducing the number of small
and extra-small registries whose existence is only justified by management
overhead of large registries with current 80% criteria, and has a positive
impact on address aggregation.
6- No additional impact on registrations is seen in RIPE region, as
infrastructure assignments are already registered in the database.

Conclusion
ETNO strongly supports this proposal and suggest selecting a conservative AD
ratio value of 0.966.

ETNO also suggest to the RIRs to monitor the use of this facility and its
impact on address consumption, and periodically report on it to the
addressing community.



(1) The European Telecommunications Network Operators' Association is
representing 41 major companies from 34 European countries, providing
electronic communications networks over fixed, mobile or personal
communications systems. ETNO's primary purpose is to establish a
constructive dialogue between its member companies and actors involved in
the development of the European Information Society to the benefit of users.
More information on ETNO can be found at: www.etno.be

ETNO Expert Contribution EC064 (2004/09)