IPv4 Address Policy
1. General rules

1.1 The purpose of following policies are designed to facilitate the management of the allocation and assignment of IPv4 address space.

1.2 All policies are based on the principles of neutrality, impartiality and openness.

1.3 TWNIC and all applicants for IP addresses should follow all the rules in this document.

2. Definitions of applicants

2.1 Local Internet Registry ( LIR ) of TWNIC
Any ISP with the typeⅡtelecommunication certificate and admission and authorization by TWNIC is assumed as a Local Internet Registry ( LIR ) of TWNIC.

In order to establish the mechanism of stratified management, TWNIC will release definite IP addresses to ordinary users through LIRs. Therefore, LIRs can apply directly to TWNIC for IP addresses on demand.

2.2 Ordinary internet users
All local schools, government organizations, academic departments, corporations, local firms with residence, and individual lease line users are assumed as ordinary internet users.

Ordinary Internet users should apply to distribution LIRs for IP addresses. But applications for large quantity of IP addresses are allowed to submit requests to TWNIC directly (not for individuals yet)

3. How to be a LIR and what are the rules LIR should follow
  • 3.1 All ISPs that want to be a LIR of TWNIC should send project proposals and a copy of the type Ⅱ telecommunication certificate to TWNIC for qualification. Once qualified, the applying organizations are authorized to deputize the assignment of IP addresses.

  • 3.2 The LIRs are required to sign a contract with TWNIC to guarantee their own rights and obligations on related matters.

  • 3.3 The rights of LIRs
    • 3.3.1 LIRs are allowed to apply to TWNIC for IP address request directly.
    • 3.3.2 LIRs are allowed to submit comments and suggestions to TWNIC on the application and administration of IP addresses. TWNIC should evaluate the practicability of the suggestions provided and offer positive cooperation.
    • 3.3.3 TWNIC should provide related information services of the IP addresses application and administration.

  • 3.4 The obligations of LIRs

    • 3.4.1 LIRs are required to observe related rules and regulations by TWNIC.

    • 3.4.2 LIRs are required to register related information of the certificated IP addresses in TWNIC's Whois database and update regularly to ensure the information is up-to-date.

    • 3.4.3 LIRs should guarantee normal functioning of DNS and the foreign/domestic routing.

    • 3.4.4 The certified IP addresses assigned by TWNIC should be employed up to 80% in six months, otherwise TWNIC can withdraw the right of the LIRs to deputize IP address assignments, and take back the issued IP addresses if necessary.

    • 3.4.5 In applying for IP addresses, LIRs should exercise an accurate evaluation of the exact need beforehand, and submit all required forms and related information. Also, LIRs should fully cooperate with TWNIC on all necessary inspections and investigations, and provide required information and certificates.

    • 3.4.6 In times when APNIC changes the policies for IP address management, TWNIC will follow the new policies and modify the existing rules. All LIRs are supposed to adjust to the variations on policies.

    • 3.4.7 LIRs are prohibited to apply to both APNIC and TWNIC for IP addresses at the same time. Once found out to having applied to both parties, the LIRs will be revoked on the right to deputize IP address assignments by TWNIC.
4. The rights and obligations of TWNIC to the applying organizations
  • 4.1 The rights of TWNIC

    • 4.1.1 TWNIC has the right to demand reports from a LIR on the state of assignment of IP addresses.

    • 4.1.2 TWNIC has the right to inspect, examine, and administrate the use of IP addresses assigned by the LIRs.

    • 4.1.3 If the LIRs are not utilizing the assigned IP addresses in a reasonable and effective way, TWNIC has the right to take back the addresses.

    • 4.1.4 Applicants are not allowed to make profits by the IP addresses. Once found out profiting against the rule, the LIRs are liable to undergo a withdrawal of all the assigned IP addresses by TWNIC, and are never allowed to apply to TWNIC for assignments again.

  • 4.2 The obligations of TWNIC

    • 4.2.1 TWNIC should keep confidential all the information submitted by the applicants, and should not release any information to outsiders without permission from the applicants.

    • 4.2.2 TWNIC should respond to applicants' submissions as soon as possible, without delay.

    • 4.2.3 TWNIC should consider and adopt reasonable opinions and suggestions from the applicants.
5. Procedure of IP address application
  • 5.1 Applying IP address to a LIR of TWNIC

    • 5.1.1 Ordinary internet users should fill application forms and submit them to LIRs for certification.

    • 5.1.2 LIRs should finish the certification process in seven days and inform the applicant with the result.

    • 5.1.3 If there are any mistakes in the application form, then the LIRs should notify the applicants; and the applicants should make corrections and go through the procedure described in 1.1 again.

    • 5.1.4 If the requested quantity of IP addresses exceed the limit of assignment window (note 1), then the applicants should fill a Second Opinion Request Form and submit it to TWNIC. Once the application is qualified, the IP addresses will be assigned to the applicants.

    • 5.1.5 After IP addresses are assigned to the ordinary users, the users should provide related information to the LIRs, who should immediately register the information in TWNIC Whois database for Internet on-line search.

  • 5.2 Applying IP address o TWNIC

    • 5.2.1 Applicants should fill request forms (note3) and submit them to the hostmaster of TWNIC ( http://rms.twnic.net.tw ).

    • 5.2.2 TWNIC will examine the forms in seven days and inform the applicant with the results.

    • 5.2.3 If there is any mistake or incomplete information in the application forms,TWNIC will notify the applicants by email. The applicants should correct the mistakes and then repeat procedure 2.1 again.

    • 5.2.4 If the number of IP addresses applied for exceeds the limit of allocation window (note 4), then the applicants should fill the Second Opinion Request Form and submit it to APNIC for admission. Once admitted, the applicants will be assigned the IP addresses by TWNIC.

    • 5.2.5 All new LIRs should follow the Slow Start system (note 5), and should submit the Second Opinion Request Form to TWNIC for every assignment. Once admitted, the LIR can assign IP addresses to its customers.

    • 5.2.6 The ordinary Internet users should provide related information to TWNIC's for registering Whois database. LIRs should automatically register information in TWNIC Whois database and ensure the information is up-to-date for on-line research.
6. Regulations of IP address allocation and assignment
  • 6.1 Regulations of LIRs assignment

    • 6.1.1 IP addresses should be assigned to custmors according to the number of the hosts in use, instead of the bandwidth. The rules for assignment by the number of hosts are as follows:
      Total number of internet hosts Quantity of IP addresses assigned (Prefix)
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      1 host /32
      2 hosts /30
      3~6 hosts /29
      7~14 hosts /28
      15~30 hosts /27
      31~62 hosts /26
      63~126 hosts /25
      127~ 254 hosts /24
      255~510 hosts /23
      511~1022 hosts /22
      1023~2046 hosts /21
      2047~4094 hosts /20

    • 6.1.2 If the connection of Internet is not permanent, LIRs should use dynamic assignment.

    • 6.1.3 Residential ADSL service that is charged according to the connection time should use dynamic assignment; other ADSL service should abide by the latest regulations on assignment issued by TWNIC.

  • 6.2 Regulations on the permission to assign IP addresses

    • 6.2.1 Applicants should submit clear, detailed, and truthful request forms, as well as a backbone network topology, pop network topology, and other related certifications (such as receipts for purchase of equipment, purchase order ...etc.), which are subject to TWNIC's inspection.

    • 6.2.2 Except for the first allocation, the LIRs should make sure the IP addresses already assigned to customer up to 80%. TWNIC can check the state of assignment by Whois database.

    • 6.2.3 All assignments by LIRs should follow the regulations in chapter 6.1.
7. Classification of LIRs

LIRs are categorized according to the types of organizations they belong to:


  • 7.1 TANet - applications from all domestic schools, institutes and departments of the Ministry of education, Provincial, County or City Bureaus of education, art galleries, museums, libraries, cultural centers, governmental research departments.

  • 7.2 GSN - applications from governmental organizations (except educational departments).

  • 7.3 ISPs as LIRs - handle applications from all the other organizations.
8. Exchange rule

Ordinary Internet users should return the IP addresses if they change ISPs, and they should apply for new IP addresses from new ISPs.

9. Incidental rules

  • 9.1. This document is approved by the "IP Address and Protocol Committee", and is enforced afterwards; so is the modification of the rules.

  • 9.2. This document subject to TWNIC's explanation.
[Notes]

1. Assignment Window
In order to regulate and achieve efficient assignments of IP addresses by the LIRs, TWNIC is obliged to set a limit on assignment quantities. LIRs are free to assign IP addresses if the quantity applied for is within the limit. If not, applicants should fill a Second Opinion Request Form and submit it to TWNIC. Once admitted, the LIRs can assign the IP addresses to their customer.

2. Second Opinion Request Form
The form can be found in this TWNIC website: http://rms.twnic.net.tw

3. Request forms
(1) ISP IP Address Request Form:
All ISP should use this form to apply to TWNIC for IP addresses.
The form can be found in this TWNIC website: http://rms.twnic.net.tw

(2) Second Opinion Request Form:
All ordinary internet users that apply to TWNIC for IP addresses should use this form. The form can be located in this TWNIC website: http://rms.twnic.net.tw

4. Allocation Window In order to administrate effective allocations of IP addresses by NIR (National Internet Registry), APNIC can set a definite limit on allocation quantity. NIR is free to handle applied-for quantities within the limit range, otherwise TWNIC should ask the applicants to fill the Second Opinion Request Form and submit it to APNIC. Once the applicants pass the inspection, TWNIC can allocate IP addresses to them. APNIC's present limit of Allocation Window to NIR is 64 class C (/18).

5. Slow Start system (1) All organizations applying to TWNIC for the first time can apply for the maximal quantity set by the Slow Start system. This limit of maximal quantity is decided according to APNIC's present regulations, and is now 1 class C (/24).

(2) Exceptions to Slow Start In exceptional circumstances, the applicants can provide substantial documents to demonstrate the urgent need of IP addresses above the limited quantity range set by Slow Start, so as to be assigned the requested quantity. Documents the applicants submit may include (but not exclusively) receipts of equipment purchases, orders, or signed project contracts (where the immediate demand of internet resources should be manifested).