Regional Internet Registry
A Regional Internet Registry ( RIR ) is a regional organization entrusted with the administration and allocation of Internet resources. Responsibility includes the administration of IP addresses ( IPv4 and IPv6 ) and AS numbers .
There are currently five active regional registries worldwide:
- Réseaux IP Européens Network Coordination Center (RIPE NCC)
- American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN)
- Asia-Pacific Network Information Center (APNIC)
- Latin American and Caribbean Internet Addresses Registry (LACNIC)
- African Network Information Center (AfriNIC)
Each of these regional registrars receives IP address ranges from the IANA . Blocks are taken from these and assigned to Local Internet Registries (LIR), which in turn serve the end customer. LIRs are mostly internet service providers .
By signing a mutual agreement, the Number Resource Organization (NRO) was founded in 2003 to protect common interests and coordinate cooperation. In coordination with ICANN , the NRO acts as an Address Supporting Organization (ASO) within the ICANN structures .