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If you mean the process by which provider-independent (PI) space is assigned, then as I understand it this REQUIRES an LIR to make the request on your behalf.
To be more precise: to submit the request on behalf of the applicant. Presumably the sponsoring LIR has already made sure that the requirements are met, before forwarding to the NCC.
I assume that the RIPE NCC reviews each request, the same as they would any address request.
Indeed, they do. Very painstakingly, I may add :-)
To be honest, I don't really understand what the LIR role in this whole process is, other than maybe companies prefer to work with a local company that speaks their language, is in their time zone, and understands their business environment.
This is the whole point. There might be a business relation with a local LIR already,
Which allows everyone involved to keep things local and somewaht simpler, and to be more cost-efficient. E.g. the LIR may send an invoice to the customer anyway, so any surcharge may be added to that, instead of having the NCC issue an invoice and follow up. Local payment is simpler and cheaper than international money transfer for some regions...
and that's way easier for "smallish companies" than to do international contracts with Amstedam.
You *can* get the PI space from the RIPE NCC directly (nowadays) by becoming a so-called "direct access user" - but this is more expensive, and more paperwork.
The amount of paperwork is pretty comparable (with the exception of the direct contract between applicant and the NCC), but the load is spread. E.g. the applicant still has to provide the (same) documentation about its existence and the sponsoring LIR has to forward that info to the NCC. And this info, again, is checked by the NCC. I can vouch for that ;-) Plus, there is a contractual requirement for the sponsoring LIR to keep the records for the PI stuff up to date and/or make sure that the holder of the resource complies.
Gert Doering -- NetMaster
Wilfried.