Table of Contents
The IPv4 Exhaustion Crisis
The Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) address space consists of approximately 4.3 billion addresses. This sounds like a lot until you consider that there are over 20 billion internet-connected devices globally. IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority) exhausted its central pool of IPv4 addresses in 2011. Regional registries (APNIC, RIPE, ARIN, LACNIC, AFRINIC) followed between 2011 and 2019.
Today, obtaining new IPv4 addresses requires either purchasing them in the secondary market (typically $40–50 per address for individual IPs) or leasing them monthly — which is often more cost-effective for growing businesses.
What is a /24 IPv4 Prefix?
A /24 prefix block contains 256 IP addresses (technically 254 usable after network and broadcast addresses). For hosting providers, ISPs, and businesses requiring many IPs, leasing a /24 block provides:
- 256 individual IPv4 addresses
- Ability to announce as a single BGP prefix
- Better route aggregation and reduced routing table entries
- Sufficient addresses for medium-scale hosting operations
APNIC vs RIPE: Understanding IP Pools
APNIC (Asia-Pacific Network Information Centre)
APNIC manages IPv4 addresses for the Asia-Pacific region including India, Nepal, China, Japan, Singapore, and Australia. APNIC IPs are generally better suited for services targeting Asian audiences, as they are known to have good peering within the Asia-Pacific region.
RIPE NCC (European Network Coordination Centre)
RIPE NCC manages addresses for Europe, Middle East, and Central Asia. RIPE IPs are well-regarded globally and often have better reputation scores for email delivery and are less frequently blocklisted compared to some other regional pools.
IP Reputation: Why Clean IPs Matter
Not all IPv4 addresses are equal. Addresses previously used for spam, malware, or abuse activities may be blocklisted by major email providers, CDNs, or security databases. When leasing IPs, clean reputation is crucial.
At Power Down Hosting, all leased IPv4 prefixes undergo reputation verification before being offered to customers. We monitor all leased addresses with our IP Reputation Management service to maintain clean scores across major blocklist databases.
FAQ
What is the difference between leasing and buying IPv4 addresses?
Buying means outright ownership (at $40–50+ per IP). Leasing provides temporary use for a monthly fee, typically $3–10 per IP/month, with no upfront capital expenditure. For most businesses, leasing is more cost-effective.
Ready to deploy?
Lease Clean IPv4 Addresses
/24 prefix blocks under APNIC and RIPE IP pools. Clean IPs, fast deployment.
