How APNIC Allocates IPv4: The Waiting List and Your Options
APNIC (Asia-Pacific Network Information Centre) exhausted its general IPv4 pool in 2011, making it the first RIR to reach this milestone. Since then, organizations requesting IPv4 have been placed on a waiting list that has grown to record lengths—a clear signal that the secondary market is now the practical path for anyone who needs addresses in a reasonable timeframe.
How APNIC IPv4 Allocation Works Today
APNIC manages IP address resources for the Asia-Pacific region, covering 56 economies including Australia, China, India, Japan, and Southeast Asia. When the general pool exhausted, APNIC implemented a waiting list system.
The waiting list process:
- Organizations submit IPv4 requests through their National Internet Registry (NIR) or directly to APNIC
- Requests are queued in order received
- When address space becomes available—through returns, reclaimed blocks, or recovered space—APNIC allocates it to the next organization in line
- Allocations are limited to a /22 (1,024 addresses) per organization
What the waiting list means in practice:
- Wait times extend years, not months
- The queue has reached record lengths as demand continues
- Small allocations (/22 maximum) may not meet operational needs
- The secondary market has become the default source for IPv4 in the region
APNIC continues to function fully—processing transfers, maintaining the registry, and supporting members. The exhaustion applies specifically to the free pool for new allocations.
APNIC in Context: Global IPv4 Exhaustion
APNIC’s situation reflects a pattern across all five Regional Internet Registries:
| RIR | Region | General Pool Exhausted |
|---|---|---|
| APNIC | Asia-Pacific | April 2011 |
| RIPE NCC | Europe, Middle East, Central Asia | November 2019 |
| ARIN | North America | September 2015 |
| LACNIC | Latin America, Caribbean | June 2014 |
| AFRINIC | Africa | January 2020 |
All RIRs have reached exhaustion phases. Demand from cloud providers, hosting companies, VPN/proxy services, and expanding internet infrastructure keeps pressure on the secondary market globally.
For the full history, see our IPv4 exhaustion timeline. For how each RIR manages remaining space, see how RIRs manage the last IPv4 addresses.
Getting IPv4 in the Asia-Pacific Region
If you need IPv4 in the APNIC region, the waiting list is rarely a viable path. Two main alternatives:
Buy IPv4. You acquire ownership through an RIR-backed transfer. Best when you need long-term control and have budget for an upfront purchase. APNIC processes both intra-region transfers and inter-RIR transfers (from ARIN, RIPE, LACNIC). Our guide on how to buy IPv4 walks through the process.
Rent IPv4. You use addresses under a short-term or flexible agreement. Good for projects, campaigns, or bridging a gap while you evaluate long-term needs. See how to rent IPv4 for options and typical terms.
Both paths use space that already exists in the market, bypassing the waiting list entirely. The choice between buying and renting depends on your timeline, budget, and whether you need ownership or usage rights.
Key Takeaways
- APNIC exhausted its general IPv4 pool in 2011; the waiting list has since grown to record lengths
- Wait times make the waiting list impractical for most organizations
- APNIC continues to process transfers and maintain the registry normally
- The secondary market—buying or renting—is the realistic path for IPv4 in the Asia-Pacific region
- Prices and availability vary by block size and region; get current quotes to inform your decision