RIPE NCC halts new LIR accounts amid IPv4 policy review

The RIPE NCC has temporarily suspended the creation of additional Local Internet Registry (LIR) accounts under existing memberships, effective immediately. The decision, announced today, also freezes all pending requests for new accounts, including those tied to mergers or acquisitions between members. Existing multiple-account holders face no immediate consolidation requirements but will be contacted to explore alternative arrangements that avoid maintaining separate LIR accounts.

What changed

The RIPE NCC Executive Board resolved to halt new LIR account acquisitions after identifying the administrative burden of supporting multiple accounts. As of 1 August 2026, 410 members—representing 2.1% of the membership—held 708 additional LIR accounts. Over the past two years, only 41 members acquired 67 new accounts, signaling declining demand. The board cited manual processes for billing, compliance, and resource transfers as key inefficiencies, noting that current systems rely on standalone solutions that complicate updates and scaling.

The restriction does not alter IPv4 allocation policies or the IPv4 waiting list, which currently grants one /24 allocation per eligible LIR account. However, it prevents members from opening new accounts to request additional allocations. The board emphasized that this pause is not a policy change but a step to reduce complexity while the RIPE community debates whether existing members should retain access to the waiting list.

Why the shift matters

The decision reflects broader tensions between operational efficiency and IPv4 scarcity. Multiple LIR accounts were initially introduced to accommodate mergers or separate business units but later became a workaround for members seeking additional IPv4 space. With the RIPE NCC’s IPv4 pool depleted, the waiting list was designed to prioritize newcomers, though current policy language does not explicitly exclude existing members. The board’s resolution aims to align policy intent with operational reality without preempting community discussions.

Administrative overhead was a key driver. Supporting multiple accounts requires manual coordination for billing, audits, and resource transfers, straining systems already struggling with scalability. The board noted that phasing out multiple accounts entirely could simplify policy language, as the distinction between members and LIRs would become irrelevant. However, no timeline for such a phase-out has been set, and the board stressed that further steps will depend on member feedback and policy outcomes.

What’s next

The RIPE NCC will present the decision at its upcoming General Meeting and solicit input from members, particularly those with multiple accounts. The board has not ruled out a permanent ban on additional accounts but framed the current restriction as a temporary measure to prevent further complexity while policy questions are resolved. Key topics for discussion include:

• Whether the IPv4 waiting list should explicitly reserve space for newcomers only.
• How to address the needs of members who rely on multiple accounts for legitimate business reasons.
• The financial and administrative implications of transitioning to a single-account model.

The board’s report will also address the long-term goal of eliminating multiple accounts, which would require amendments to the IPv4 allocation policy through the RIPE Policy Development Process. Members can provide feedback via the RIPE Labs comments section or the Members Discuss mailing list.