[address-policy-wg] FORMAL PROPOSAL: change of initial PA allocation size

Hi,

this was discussed on the list before the last RIPE meeting, and we
had it on the address policy working group meeting (presented by me).

I think we mostly have consensus on this issue, but I want to present
it as a formal proposal, before it's incorporated into the policy.


PROPOSAL:

  * the minimum initial allocation size (for new LIRs) is reduced from
    a /20, as of today, to a /21.
    (If a new LIR can demonstrate need for a bigger initial allocation,
    they can get a larger address block.  This will not be changed).

  * the requirement to show an immediate need for 25% of the allocated
    address space is removed for the "minimum initial allocation"


The motivation for that is that under the current policy, startup LIRs
that do not already hold address space cannot get an initial PA allocation 
(which would be a /20 as of today, or bigger), because in many cases, they 
cannot demonstrate immediate need, or prior utilization of sufficient
address space.

To work around this, many startup LIRs use PI address space as a start,
and when they have filled enough of this, apply for their own PA again.
The problem with this is that in the end, it's very likely that more
than one route will end up in the global BGP table (where one PA route
would be sufficient), and also it encourages lying to the RIRs (PI space
must not be distributed to third parties, i.e., LIR customers).


The drawback of the changes are that it's potentially wasting address
space for "very small LIRs" (that would be happy with a /23 PI space
and will now get a "huge" /21).  The wastage would only happen for
very small LIRs that will never grow to fill the initial /21.
A rough calculation shows that "1000 new LIR /21 allocations" would
need a /11, which is not an unbearable strain on the conservation 
side, judging from the total number of LIRs in RIPE land today.

A second drawback of this is that people may need to adapt their BGP
filters to permit /21s from the network block(s) where these allocations
are made from.  So the RIPE NCC needs to document this accordingly,
and ideally, well in advance.

Gert Doering
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