{"id":30579,"date":"2025-08-12T18:05:16","date_gmt":"2025-08-12T18:05:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.lacnic.net\/?p=30579"},"modified":"2026-03-27T14:44:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T14:44:49","slug":"ipv6-mostly-ipv4-exhaustion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.lacnic.net\/en\/ipv6-mostly-ipv4-exhaustion\/","title":{"rendered":"IPv6-Mostly: The Key Strategy in the Face of IPv4 Exhaustion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Alfredo Verderosa<\/a> and Carlos Mart\u00ednez<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sustained growth of LACNIC’s membership base, which now comprises over 13,000 member organizations, reflects the evolution of the Internet ecosystem in our region. Of this total, more than 1,600 organizations operate exclusively with IPv6, highlighting a structural shift: the availability of IPv4 addresses is increasingly limited, and networks must be planned for an IPv6-based future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Current Scenario: The Reality of IPv4 Exhaustion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since 19 August 2020, LACNIC’s IPv4 address pool has been formally exhausted. Currently, assignments are only possible from addresses that are returned or recovered, and are managed through a waiting list<\/a>.
The projected wait time for new requests exceeds 10 years, so this option is not an immediate solution for organizations requiring IPv4 addresses today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Three Possible Ways to Obtain IPv4 Addresses in LAC<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Despite their exhaustion, there are still three possible ways to obtain IPv4 addresses in the region, each with its own peculiarities:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>1. LACNIC’s Waiting List<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We recommend that organizations register<\/a> despite the long wait times. Think of this option like starting to pay off a mortgage: the process takes time, but you eventually obtain your own stable resources without the risks associated with depending on third parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>2. IPv4 Address Transfers<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Whether  through purchases, mergers, or acquisitions<\/a>, transfers have become an increasingly common alternative. In the past year alone, nearly 200 transfer operations were completed in our region.
However, this option is often expensive, with the smallest block available on the market costing approximately USD 8,000, which many organizations cannot afford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>3. IPv4 Address Leasing<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Leasing IPv4 addresses assigned by LACNIC is currently not allowed. Using this option could result in revocation of the resource due to policy violations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some organizations choose to lease blocks from outside the region, but this often entails significant operational difficulties<\/strong> such as geolocation errors, a lack of traceability and support in the event of incidents, and even the inability to manage the resources through MiLACNIC.<\/p>\n\n\n

Leer tambi\u00e9n:<\/div><\/div><\/div>
IPv6-Mostly Networks<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n

This scenario has led to an increasingly active debate within the LACNIC community regarding the potential regulation of IPv4 address leasing. It\u2019s an open, complex, and evolving conversation involving technical stakeholders, operators, and other key regional players. At LACNIC, we encourage all interested organizations and individuals to participate in the policy development process<\/a>, share their experiences, and contribute their vision to collectively define clear rules aligned with our community’s operational reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>IPv6-Mostly: The Key to Network Sustainability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In short, the possibilities of obtaining new IPv4 addresses are now extremely limited<\/strong>. Organizations must learn to operate with few IPv4 blocks while making the most of the IPv6 space available today, immediately and without restrictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Faced with this scenario, the IPv6-Mostly approach is becoming increasingly consolidated as a key operational strategy to ensure network continuity, scalability, and sustainability in our region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Transitioning to an IPv6-Mostly<\/strong> network means operating primarily over IPv6, maintaining IPv4 as a complementary service only when needed. This architecture simplifies the network, lowers the costs associated with CGNAT, and optimizes the overall user experience. This approach is documented in an IETF<\/strong> draft currently under discussion that defines best practices and guidelines for its implementation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an IPv6-Mostly network, IPv6-only devices, dual-stack devices (IPv6 + IPv4), and in some cases, even IPv4-only devices coexist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Recommendations for Migrating to IPv6-Mostly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Below are some recommended strategies to advance toward this operating model:<\/p>\n\n\n\n