IPv4 Purchase Timeline: From Quote and Escrow to RIR Transfer and Routing

Buying IPv4 space is a staged transaction, not a single payment. Before companies buy IPv4 addresses, they should understand when the quote is accepted, when funds enter escrow, when the RIR reviews the request, and when the transferred prefix can be routed in production.

An IPv4 purchase timeline is the sequence of commercial, registry, and technical steps required to move IPv4 address space from a seller to a buyer. It covers quote approval, due diligence, escrow, RIR processing, registry completion, route preparation, and routing activation, so teams can plan dependencies instead of treating registry approval as the final step.

What are the main purchase process stages?

The purchase process stages should be mapped before signing because several teams may work in parallel.

A typical sequence is:

1. quote and block selection;
2. due diligence and agreement;
3. escrow funding;
4. RIR transfer submission;
5. registry approval;
6. routing preparation;
7. production announcement.

How long does the quote transfer timeline take?

The quote transfer timeline begins before any RIR request. The buyer should confirm the exact prefix, price, transfer eligibility, block history, transaction fees, and closing structure.

Due diligence may take longer when ownership records, corporate documents, reputation data, or transfer restrictions need additional review.

Before escrow, verify:

• the exact prefix and registered holder;
• eligibility under the relevant RIR policy;
• routing and reputation history;
• escrow, broker, and registry costs;
• all required corporate and transfer documents.

What happens during the purchase escrow timeline?

The purchase escrow timeline starts when the parties agree on release conditions and the buyer funds the escrow account.

Typical purchase escrow stages include:

• transaction setup and party verification;
• funding by the buyer;
• confirmation that funds are secured;
• RIR transfer processing;
• release after the agreed completion event.

The release trigger must be clear. It may be tied to registry confirmation rather than transfer submission. Escrow procedures vary, so funding does not guarantee a fixed closing date.

How long does the RIR transfer take?

The RIR transfer timeline varies by registry and transaction type. Many complete transfers within the RIPE NCC service region can be processed within one or two business days. Inter-RIR transfers generally take longer because two registries must review the request and synchronize their records.

ARIN uses a different workflow. For an 8.3 specified-recipient transfer, the source and recipient submit separate requests, which ARIN links after review. Timing depends on documentation, fees, policy requirements, and the readiness of both parties.

What are the main purchase transfer stages?

The purchase transfer stages normally include eligibility review, request submission, RIR questions, approval, registry update, and confirmation that the block is registered to the buyer.

Teams should track:

1. submission;
2. document review;
3. follow-up questions;
4. approvals and fees;
5. registry update;
6. final confirmation.

A seller using a broker or a managed IPv4 sale service should still have clearly assigned responsibilities for documents, registry communication, and closing conditions.

When can routing activation begin?

Registry completion and production routing are separate milestones. The purchase routing timeline continues after the ownership record changes.

Before routing activation, the network team may need to update:

• route objects or routing authorization data;
• RPKI ROAs where applicable;
• LOAs for upstream providers;
• reverse DNS delegation;
• IPAM, firewall, and monitoring records;
• BGP filters.

A completed RIR transfer does not itself make the prefix globally reachable. Upstream acceptance, route filtering, RPKI status, and network policy affect visibility.

How should acquisition timeline stages be planned?

The acquisition timeline stages should use separate milestones for commercial closing, registry completion, and network activation.

A practical timeline records:

• quote acceptance;
• due diligence completion;
• escrow funding;
• RIR submission and approval;
• escrow release;
• routing preparation;
• first BGP announcement;
• production validation.

This separates commercial completion from technical readiness.

How can you plan an IPv4 acquisition from quote to routing?

Map the acquisition as a sequence of handoffs and give each milestone an owner. IPv4 Online can help coordinate the commercial and registry stages, while your network team can prepare routing so the block is ready after the transfer is actually complete.

Use the timeline to distinguish registry processing from the longer end-to-end transaction. Finance, legal, the seller, the RIR, escrow, and network operations each have separate dependencies, so a short registry review does not imply that the whole acquisition closes in the same period.