The Country Internet Registry (CIR) model: An alternative approach for the allocation and distribution of IPv6 Addresses

Abstract

Internet has evolved from a research based closed network used by the scientist to a social network used by everyone. The way Internet Protocol (IP) addresses are allocated and distributed to users has also evolved with the Internet. But concerns have been raised that the present system of IP address management is not adequate with the growing demands of future Next Generation Network services, fair distribution of Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) addresses, sovereignty rights, and bridging the digital divide. Voices have been made by some growing economies requesting for changes in the way currently IP addresses are managed especially with IPv6. This paper describes an alternative approach for the allocation and distribution of IPv6 Addresses by defining an expanded model called the Country Internet Registry (CIR) model. The proposed CIR model would serve in addition to the existing Regional Internet Registry (RIR) model and will coexist such that the users have a choice from whom they wish to obtain the IPv6 addresses. There would be a healthy competition between the CIR model and the RIR model leading to better services at a cheaper cost. The proposed CIR model would ensure that the allocation policies for IPv6 addresses provide equitable access to resources available on the Internet facilitating greater accessibility to the Internet by everyone, bridging the digital divide.