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IPv6 Policy Implementation

AFRINIC has finalised the implementation of two new IPv6 related policies;

  1. IPv6 PI Clarification - https://afrinic.net/policy/proposals/2019-v6-001-d2 - 
  2. Adjusting IPv6 PA Policy - https://afrinic.net/policy/proposals/2019-ipv6-002-d1 

The policies introduce new sections and amend some, which are explained here.

IPv6 Prefix Announcement

Announcement of PI Assignments

Section 6.8.2 of the Consolidated Policy Manual requires member organizations to justify the number of end-sites and their need for the IPv6 PI address space, and once the IPv6 resources are assigned, the resource member must deploy the IPv6 provider-independent address space at each of their end-site(s) within 12 months from receiving the prefix.  

The announcement of disaggregated IPv6 prefix is no longer forbidden by this new policy. However, the policy encourages members to aggregate any announcements of prefixes, to the extent practicable, so as to minimize global routing table growth. 

Announcement of PA Allocations

Section 6.5.1.1(D) of the Consolidated Policy Manual makes it mandatory for LIR members to announce an IPv6 PA allocation within 12 months and; to the extent practicable, as a single aggregated prefix, so as to minimize global routing table growth. In some very special cases, the space may not be announced, however, it must be duly justified by the member to AFRINIC.

IPv6 Policy Violation

The IPv6 prefixes which are not in use or not being announced after 12 months are in violation of the respective policies mentioned above and shall be reclaimed and returned to the AFRINIC free pool. The holders of IPv6 prefixes with a valid reason not to announce their IPv6 prefix within 12 months are encouraged to contact AFRINIC (mail to: hostmaster@afrinic.net).

You may check if your IPv6 prefixes are compliant to the policy as follows;

  1. Log in to https://my.afrinic.net/
  2. Go to “Resources” > “Policy Violations”
  3. Click on “IPv6 PI/PA UPDATE POLICY” to view the prefixes which are in violation of the policy.

Rectification of Initial prefix size

Rectification of initial PI Assignment

Section 6.8.4 of the Consolidated Policy Manual allows End-User members to request for rectification of their initial IPv6 PI assignment if it no longer satisfies their needs. The request will be evaluated by AFRINIC and, if approved, the same address block will be “upgraded” to the new required prefix size. However, if the adjacent prefixes are already being used by other organizations or if such assignment would not leave sufficient space for subsequent assignments, the member will have to choose either to:

  1. Receive a new block which, together with the block that has already been assigned, covers the new justified need, and keeps both blocks, or;
  2. Receive a new IPv6 block, with the agreement to utilize it for all future deployment and deprecate the old block through attrition, returning when empty. There is no deadline for return at this time

Note that a member can request the rectification of IPv6 PI space only once. 

Rectification of initial PA Allocation

There are no new amendments made to the rectification of the initial PA allocation. As stipulated in section 6.5.1.3 of our Consolidated Policy Manual, LIR members may request for a rectification of their initial IPv6 PA allocation if it no longer satisfies their needs without the obligation to prove utilisation thresholds which applies for subsequent IPv6 PA allocations. The request will be evaluated by AFRINIC and, if approved, the same address block will be “upgraded” to the new required prefix size. However, if the adjacent prefixes are already being used by other organizations or if making the allocation would not leave sufficient space for subsequent allocations, the member will have to choose either to:

  1. Receive a new block with which they shall renumber their network and return the ‘original’ initial allocation within 6 months, or;
  2. Receive a complementary prefix to complete their addressing plan, and announce both, the ‘original’ initial prefix and the new prefix resulting from the new allocation. In the case of future subsequent allocation requests, both allocations shall be considered as if they were a single allocation.

Note that a member can request the rectification of IPv6 PA space only once.

Evaluation by AFRINIC

Any member requesting for the rectification of the initial assignment or allocation must provide a detailed IPv6 addressing plan demonstrating their needs for the next 12 months. In case the prefix will not be advertised, the member must inform AFRINIC and provide a reasonable justification.

How To Request Rectification

Request for rectification of PI Assignments

To request for rectification of a PI Assignment, please follow the below steps;

    1. Log in to https://my.afrinic.net/
    2. Go to “Resources” > “IPv6 Resource
    3. Under “End-User Assignments”, click on “Request IPv6 Rectification”
    4. Fill in the below form;
      1. Select the prefix to be rectified.
      2. Select the new prefix size. You should select a nibble-aligned prefix size.
      3. Insert the preferred Netname. The name may be made up of letters, digits, the character underscore "_", and the character hyphen "-"; the first character of the name must be a letter, and the last character of a name must be a letter or a digit.
      4. Choose whether the prefix will be announced or not within 12 months of receiving the prefix. Examples of cases where the prefix shall not be announced are prefixes to be used for IXP peering LAN or private peering. If the prefix will not be announced, you will need to provide a valid reason.
      5. You may choose whether to request for a prefix which is adjacent to your existing prefix by selecting “Extend” or “Disaggregate” for a prefix which is not adjacent. Note that if you select “Extend”, a “Check Prefix” option will appear next to the prefix. You may check if the adjacent prefixes are available or not. If the existing prefix cannot be extended to the prefix size you chose, you will need to either choose a longer prefix length or choose Disaggregate.
      6. The rest of the form is optional, however, we encourage you to share an addressing plan which demonstrates how the requested prefix will be used. The addressing plan is required during the evaluation of your request.
      7. Once all the required information is provided in the form, click on “Request Rectification”.

rectify pi

Request for rectification of PA Allocations

To request for rectification of a PA Allocation, please follow the below steps;

  1. Log in to https://my.afrinic.net/
  2. Go to “Resources” > “IPv6 Resource
  3. Under “Allocation”, click on “Request IPv6 Rectification”
  4. Fill in the below form;
    1. Select the prefix to be rectified.
    2. Select the new prefix size. You should select a nibble-aligned prefix size.
    3. Insert the preferred Netname. The name may be made up of letters, digits, the character underscore "_", and the character hyphen "-"; the first character of the name must be a letter, and the last character of a name must be a letter or a digit.
    4. Choose whether the prefix will be announced or not within 12 months of receiving the prefix. Examples of cases where the prefix shall not be announced are prefixes to be used for IXP peering LAN or private peering. If the prefix will not be announced, you will need to provide a valid reason.
    5. You may choose whether to request for a prefix which is adjacent to your existing prefix by selecting “Extend” or “Disaggregate” for a prefix which is not adjacent. Note that if you select “Extend”, a “Check Prefix” option will appear next to the prefix. You may check if the adjacent prefixes are available or not. If the existing prefix cannot be extended to the prefix size you chose, you will need to either choose a longer prefix length or choose Disaggregate.
    6. Add a brief description of the service which you intend to provide.
    7. For the “Addressing Plan”, insert a brief plan in the format: Immediate / 1yr / Purpose. For example; /32 /30 /Broadband
    8. The rest of the form is optional, however, we encourage you to share a detailed addressing plan which demonstrates how the requested prefix will be used. The addressing plan is required during the evaluation of your request.
    9. Once all the required information is provided in the form, click on “Request Rectification”.

rectify pa

 

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