ABSTRACT
This document aims to provide the necessary information
for those who wish to setup up a Local Internet Registry (LIR).
In this document initial guidelines are given to organisations that
are planning to set up a LIR. Further, the necessary steps to set
up a LIR are described
Table
of Contents
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Terminology
2.0 Who Can Set Up a Local Internet Registry?
2.1 Responsibilities
of a LIR
2.2 Business
Considerations
2.3 Other Considerations
3.0 Setting Up a LIR
Step 1: Completing the AfriNIC Services Agreement
Step 2: Payment of Fees
4.0 Requesting Address Space for the
First Time
5.0 Training Courses
1.0 Introduction
AfriNIC is the Regional Internet Registry (RIR)
responsible for the distribution of Internet resources in Africa
and Indian Ocean service region. Most organisations request these
resources, i.e. IP addresses and Autonomous System Numbers (ASN),
directly from their upstream service provider. However there are
circumstances when this is not appropriate, such as when a company
needs large quantities of IP addresses to distribute to its downstream
customers. When this situation occurs, an organisation will request
to set up an LIR and therefore become a member of AfriNIC as an
LIR. They can then request resources and services directly from
AfriNIC. This document outlines the process that an organisation
must follow to become a member of AfriNIC.
1.1 Terminology
Clarification of the terms used by the AfriNIC
community:
To allocate means to distribute address space to
Internet Registries (IRs) for the purpose of subsequent distribution
by them.
To assign means to delegate address space to an
ISP or End User, for specific use within the Internet infrastructure
they operate. Assignments must only be made for specific purposes
documented by specific organisations and are not to be sub-assigned
to other parties.
Regional Internet Registries are established and
authorised by respective regional communities, and recognised by
the IANA to serve and represent large geographical regions.
The primary role of RIRs is to manage and distribute
public Internet address space within their respective regions.
A Local Internet Registry is an IR that primarily
assigns address space to the users of the network services that
it provides. LIRs are generally ISPs, whose customers are primarily
End Users and possibly other ISPs.
2.0 Who Can Set Up a Local Internet
Registry?
Any organisation that requires services from AfriNIC
is entitled to become a member of AfriNIC. AfriNIC can only accept
membership applications from organisations that have a registered
legal entity located in AfriNIC service region.
Although there are no qualifying criteria to become
a member, Membership of AfriNIC does not necessarily qualify to
receive an allocation of IP addresses.
Certain qualifying criteria must be met to receive
an allocation of IP addresses. These criteria are described in the
AfriNIC Document "IPv4 Address Allocation
and Assignment Policies in AfriNIC region" found at:
http://www.afrinic.net/docs/policies/afpol-v4200407-000.htm
and the "IPv6 Address Allocation and Assignment
Policy" found at:
http://www.afrinic.net/docs/policies/afpol-v6200407-000.htm
2.1. Responsibilities of a Local
Internet Registry
The LIR holds certain responsibilities for the
assignment of IP addresses that it makes from its allocated blocks.
These responsibilities include:
2.1.1 Making the right assignment decisions following
assignment policies as described in the AfriNIC Document "IPv4 Address
Allocation and Assignment Policies in AfriNIC region" found at:
http://www.afrinic.net/docs/policies/afpol-v4200407-000.htm
2.1.2 Keeping records of the information gathered
in the assignment process.
2.1.3 Storing assignment and sub-allocation information
in the AfriNIC Database and keeping this information up-to-date.
These responsibilities are described in the AfriNIC Document "AfriNIC
Database Reference Manual" found at:
http://www.afrinic.net/docs/db/afsup-dbrefm200501
2. 2. Business Considerations
When changing upstream providers, an organisation
that does not operate an LIR will probably have to renumber their
networks and return the formerly used address space to the LIR that
assigned the address space. Organisations operating an LIR do not
depend on others for assigning address space to their own or their
customers networks. On the other hand, operating an LIR can takes
up a certain amount of time and financial resources that should
not be
underestimated.
2.3. Other Considerations
All organisations that currently make efficient
use of 1024 IPv4 addresses (a /22) or fewer must agree to renumber
all address space when they become an LIR and receive allocation
from AfriNIC. Additionally, they must return the ranges to the upstream
provider upon receipt of their first allocation from AfriNIC. This
is described in AfriNIC document "IPv4 Address Allocation and Assignment
Policies in AfriNIC region" found at:
http://www.afrinic.net/docs/policies/afpol-v4200407-000.htm
Organisations currently operating an LIR that wish
to establish another one must provide AfriNIC with a valid reason
for the need of an additional LIR. In this case AfriNIC may require
extra information to help us understand and process this request.
3.0 Setting Up an LIR
An organisation is required to complete the Membership
application procedure in order to set up an LIR at AfriNIC. Please
note that much communication is needed between the LIR and AfriNIC
to ensure that the Organisation fulfils the requirements and understands
all the responsibilities behind becoming an LIR. All communication
is conducted via e-mail and in the English language.
The steps need to be performed in the order specified
above.
Step 1: Completing the AfriNIC Services Agreement
AfriNIC will need to collect administrative information
about the new LIR such as address and telephone numbers, names of
contact persons and billing information (including your VAT number
if your billing address is in Mauritius). This needs to be filled
in the AfriNIC Services Agreement which
will form the official contract between the LIR and AfriNIC once
signed.
The Service Agreement is available at:
http://www.afrinic.net/corporate/aflgl-rsa200712.pdf
or alternatively, you can fill in the online version
of the form at http://my.afrinic.net/registration
Signing this agreement means that all persons registered
as LIR contacts are obliged to abide by the LIR policies and procedures
outlined by AfriNIC and the AfriNIC community. Please note that
LIR contacts are the only people from the LIR who can request services
from AfriNIC.
The service agreement must be signed by a representative
of the LIR who holds the power to sign contracts (usually a director).
Please include the title of the person signing the agreement as
well as the name of the organisation, the location where the agreement
was signed and the date it was signed. Please do not alter the layout
or content of the service agreement. Please send the signed service
agreement to AfriNIC by postal mail.
Registered and courier mail can be sent to:
AfriNIC Ltd
11th Floor,
Raffles Tower
Ebene Cyber City
MAURITIUS
AfriNIC can only give services to organisations
that operate as legal entities in the AfriNIC service region. Therefore,
together with the "The AfriNIC Service Agreement", AfriNIC
may requires you to send a copy of your organisation's registration
with the local Chamber of Commerce, or the equivalent. AfriNIC will
only accept a signed copy of "The Service Agreement" in
the English language.
A registry identifier ("ORG-ID-") will be assigned
to you by AfriNIC once payment is effected. The registry identifier
is used to identify you as an LIR and distinguish you from other
organisations. The format for the ORG-ID is:
ORG-<an identifier>-AFRINIC,
eg: ORG-BAO23-AFRINIC
It is the responsibility of the LIR to keep the
information supplied in the application form up-to-date. The information
provided in the application form is not stored in the AfiNIC whois
Database. To change any information about the LIR or check the current
contents, please send an e-mail to <billing@afrinic.net>,
and include the ORG-ID in the subject or body of the mail.
Please note that AfriNIC may ask for more information.
Step 2: Payment of Fees
After Step 1 is completed ("Completing
the AfriNIC Membership Application Form") AfriNIC will send
an invoice to the billing address as specified by the prospective
member according to "AfriNIC
fees schedule". The amount on the invoice must be paid before
the LIR receives services from AfriNIC, such as requesting address
space or attending an LIR Training Course.
Upon receipt of the signed service agreement and
registration documents (e.g. the Chamber of Commerce form) AfriNIC
will verify that the invoice has been paid. AfriNIC financial services
will then raise the service level of the LIR, that will enable it
to start using the services of AfriNIC.
The new member will receive an invoice from AfriNIC
that includes the one time start-up fee and yearly LIR membership
fee. The start-up fee is used partially to pay for the LIR Training
Courses that all new registered contacts are encouraged to attend.
These fees are agreed by the membership at the Annual General Meeting
(AGM) of AfriNIC and therefore are subject to change from year to
year.
Please read the current version of AfriNIC Document
"AfriNIC Billing Procedure"
and "Fee
Schedule" for the list of current fees at:
Each LIR is assigned a category (i.e. EXTRA SMALL,
SMALL, MEDIUM, LARGE o EXTRA LARGE) on which the yearly fees are
based. The categories are determined by the size of the IP block
received from AfriNIC. A special billing category called "Enterprise/End-User"
applies to LIRs that only assign addresses to their own organisations
networks and not to customers.
Please note that the LIR billing process begins
right after the completion of Step 1 (and NOT upon LIR first address
space request). If an organisation takes up membership but does
not request address space until months later, they are still required
to pay for the Membership-Only fee.
Be aware that most LIRs are not set up overnight
and that it is best to apply well in advance of the operation date.
Please consider one month to be a guideline for the completion of
the application as an LIR.
Questions regarding billing and payments should
be sent to: <billing@afrinic.net>.
4.0 Requesting Address Space for
the First Time
After an organisation has officially set up an
LIR, AfriNIC will send a message to notify the LIR that the set-up
has been completed. At this time the LIR should use the <hostmaster@afrinic.net>
mailbox for requesting address space or AS Numbers.
Policy or registry-related questions can be sent
to <lir-help@afrinic.org>. Please do not send address space
requests to
<lir-help@afrinic.org> nor use the ticket number that was
assigned to you in the membership application. As soon as your LIR
is established, this ticket will be closed.
To request IPv4 address space please submit a "First
Allocation Request Form" found at:
http://www.afrinic.net/forms/affrm-v4fst200501.htm
5.0 Training Courses
AfriNIC offers LIR Training Courses given by AfriNIC
staff. Courses are paid for through the membership contribution.
The course covers the following areas; the AfriNIC whois Database,
IP address policies, reverse delegation, the routing registry, and
AS numbers. The training course is open only to members of AfriNIC.
We strongly recommend that new
members send one or two of their staff members to this training
course. For information on LIR Training Courses, location and dates
of future LIR Training Courses, course material, policies and objectives,
please see:
http://www.afrinic.net/training/index.htm
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