As you should know, IPv4 address space is running out. The last IANA blocks will probably go before Christmas, or soon afterwards.

Shortly after IANA run out we will be issuing a policy on IPv4 address usage within AAISP.

We have never charged for IP addresses or restricted how many you can have (other than following RIPE rules to justify them). We certainly do not endorse NAT in any way.

However, we have to face the practicality that IPv4 is a limited resource, and will remain an essential component in our services (even as just a WAN address) for some years to come.

To this end we are considering all options, and will be delighted to discuss ideas on irc.

There will be simple steps, like reviewing who is not actually using address space they have, and recovering it.

We will obviously do everything we can to encourage IPv6 usage as well.

In the long term we expect that customers will eventually move to IPv6 with a single IPv4 and NAT for legacy internet access. We want to avoid any NAT usage in our network, so at least give people a fixed real IPv4 WAN address if nothing else.

We will, of course, help with any IPv4 PI address space requests customers have. If customers have their own IPv4 space, then none of the policies to reclaim or charge for IPv4 space would apply to those customers, obviousy.

Charging for IPv4 would be a last resort, and is not something we are seriously considering at the moment. Whatever we do, IPv6 will remain freely available.

So, please comment, discuss, ask, suggest... RevK on irc...