You have a simple two way choice: - you sign a contract and get your PI - you don't sign a contract and you don't.
Today is not true. the 2007-1 change what is possible today. Today if i justify to receive a PI, i have it without any Contractual Obligation. i add information in ripe database and update it.
if you need PI and after you grow, you can become LIR and change you PI with PA and like this have a contract with RIPE.
PI can't be converted to PA. PI is for end-sites. PA is for ISP's who provide aggregated connectivity to end-sites.
and PI may be a step before PA...
What where your requirements again for all of this?
the problem is to put a new restriction. the 2007-1 say: NOW when you want any internet ressource you MUST be contract with the , agree with the ripe etc... you can not imagine ALL possibility and you must not say now is like this and no way for the other. we would like let a choice, yes a little choice for a little window... we beleive that a step : MAY be established before MUST Be established, let ripe to proposal best contract to interest organisation that today has no contract for their own reason... (politacal, technic....what ever i do not know. but i not judge to say if it is good or bad, or it must be like this than like that.) bst regards. Frederic
Greets, Jeroen