I do think this points to an area of possible concern. I have often thought that as IPv4 resources become more limited, people are going to start having problems. (What do you mean I can't have a /18 for my new POP?) At that point, questions will be raised. (Why wasn't I told?!
ARIN has solved this issue by sending a letter in the post to the CEO of every LIR explaining about IPv4 runout and IPv6 availability. If RIPE has not done so, it would be a good idea to protect against lawsuits.
Why didn't somebody *do* something?!?!)
It would be good for the RIPE web site to have a page explaining the history of IPv4 runout concerns leading to classful IPv4 addressing, then VLSM and CIDR, then the development and deployment of IPv6. Dates are essential to show that there was ample time for people to take action.
Fingers will be pointed. (Who's fault is this?!?!?!)
At some time, perhaps RIPE should start playing hardball in its messages. Wouldn't it illustrate management incompetence if a network operator has not already started their contingency plans for IPv4 runout, and IPv6 deployment? I'm sure that if RIPE held some free educational sessions for financial analysts in the major cities of Europe which host stock exchanges, that those analysts would start asking some pointed questions during the next quarterly reporting season. Frankfurt, Paris, Milan, London, Moscow, Geneva and so on.
People or organizations with little familiarity about the Internet and its governance will step in, either of they want to or because their constituents demand it.
Knowing that this wave of activity and concern is coming, RIPE would be wise to step in front of the wave and lead the discussions. On the one hand, there is no need to panic because lots of people and organizations have been working hard in preparation. But on the other hand, some percentage of organizations have their head in the sand and will suffer, perhaps even to the point of bankruptcy. We may have another telecoms collapse next year, due to the issues surrounding IPv4 runout and IPv6 readiness. Remember the big bank failures recently, that were triggered by a sharp drop in the value of credit default swaps that was the result of problems in the US mortgage market? Now, after the fact we know that some people did see this problem coming, that they prepared their companies for the crash, and/or tried to warn others what was happening. The IPv4 runout may not be such a major event, but we are in a similar position as knowledgeable insiders who are trying to get the message across. I think that as long as we make the attempt to get the message out there, nobody will shoot the messenger. The blame will correctly be placed on those who ignored the messages. --Michael Dillon