RIPE NCC IPv4 Exhaustion: What It Means and How to Get Addresses in Europe
RIPE NCC ran out of IPv4 on November 25, 2019. The RIR announcements that day marked the end of the general IPv4 pool for the Europe, Middle East, and Central Asia region. For organizations that need space in the RIPE region now, the path is the secondary market: buy, lease, or rent. This post explains what happened, what it means, and what you can do next.
What Happened on November 25, 2019
RIPE NCC (Réseaux IP Européens Network Coordination Centre) is the Regional Internet Registry (RIR) for Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Central Asia. On November 25, 2019, it announced that it had allocated the last available IPv4 addresses from its general pool. From that moment, new requests for IPv4 from that pool could not be fulfilled.
The announcement did not mean RIPE NCC stopped operating. It meant that the era of “free” IPv4 allocations from the RIR for the region was over. The registry continues to process transfers (between parties under RIPE policy), maintain records, and support existing holders. What changed is that new space no longer comes from a general pool; it comes from the secondary market.
What “Run Out” Means in Practice
When an RIR runs out of IPv4, three things stay true:
The RIR keeps working. RIPE NCC still processes transfer requests, maintains the registry, and supports LIRs and other members. RIR announcements about exhaustion refer to the general allocation pool, not to the registry’s ability to process transfers or maintain data.
New space comes from the market. Organizations that need IPv4 get it by buying, leasing, or renting from existing holders. Transfers are completed under RIPE NCC’s transfer policy; the RIR approves and records the change of ownership or rights.
Demand doesn’t disappear. Cloud, hosting, VPN/proxy, and remote work keep demand high. So space in the RIPE region remains valuable; it’s just that supply is now entirely from the secondary market, not from a free pool.
The RIPE Region Today
Since the 2019 exhaustion, the RIPE region has operated entirely on the secondary market. Here’s how IPv4 works in the region now:
Transfers are routine. IPv4 moves between organizations under RIPE NCC’s transfer policies. The market is mature: brokers, marketplaces, and direct deals facilitate thousands of transfers annually. RIPE NCC processes the paperwork and updates the registry.
Leasing and renting are common. Holders who don’t need all their space lease or rent IPv4 to others. Use rights change without full ownership transfer. This provides flexibility for organizations that need addresses temporarily or want to avoid capital expenditure.
Policy continues to evolve. RIPE NCC updates policies based on community input—transfer eligibility, waiting list procedures for returned space, RPKI requirements, and registration practices. Staying informed helps you plan; check RIPE NCC announcements and policy proposals.
Waiting list exists but moves slowly. RIPE NCC maintains a waiting list for organizations that qualify for a final /22 allocation from returned space. The queue moves slowly; most organizations that need IPv4 promptly use the secondary market instead.
For the full history of IPv4 depletion, see our IPv4 exhaustion timeline. For how all five RIRs handle remaining space, see how RIRs manage the last IPv4 addresses.
How to Get IPv4 in the RIPE Region
You have three main options:
Buy IPv4. You acquire ownership through an RIR-backed transfer. Best when you need long-term control and have budget for an upfront purchase. Our guide on how to buy IPv4 walks through the process, including working with an LIR and completing RIPE transfer steps.
Lease IPv4. You get the right to use addresses for a period under a contract. Lower upfront cost than buying; good for medium-term needs. See how to lease IPv4 for lessee-side steps.
Rent IPv4. You use addresses under a short-term or flexible agreement. Good for projects, campaigns, or bridging a gap. See how to rent IPv4 for options.
All three paths use space that already exists in the RIPE region; the difference is ownership vs use rights and the length of commitment.
Bottom Line
RIPE NCC running out of IPv4 on November 25, 2019 was a milestone RIR announcement: the general pool for the region was exhausted. It did not mean the end of IPv4 in Europe—it meant that new needs are met by buying, leasing, or renting from the secondary market. If you need RIPE ipv4 space, use a marketplace or broker to find blocks and complete transfers or usage agreements under RIPE NCC policy. Get current quotes and choose the option (buy, lease, or rent) that fits your timeline and budget.