Dear colleagues,

I would like to express my concern regarding the proposal to increase the annual fees for Provider Independent (PI) resources, particularly IPv4 PI assignments, from the current €75 per block to €1,000 per block.

PI address space serves a critical operational role, enabling routing independence, multi-homing, and rapid reconfiguration of upstream connectivity without renumbering infrastructure. For many operators, PI resources are essential for maintaining stable and resilient networks.

For operators in Ukraine, this is especially important. Networks continue to operate under extraordinary circumstances, including infrastructure damage, power outages, and ongoing disruptions. PI resources allow these networks to maintain connectivity and quickly restore service during such events.

Given that the administrative costs of maintaining all LIR resources are largely covered by the annual LIR membership fee, the proposed increase in the PI block fee represents a very steep and disproportionate rise compared to the current PI fee. It could place a significant financial burden on smaller operators, whose primary focus is on infrastructure stability rather than commercial expansion.

I believe many operators in the RIPE region share similar concerns, particularly smaller networks and those operating in challenging economic or operational environments.

I would also like to highlight that many Internet Exchange Points rely on PI address space and operate on a non-commercial basis. A sharp increase in PI fees could make some IXPs financially unviable, potentially leading to their closure and negatively impacting overall network stability.

For these reasons, I respectfully encourage the RIPE community not to support proposals that increase fees for IPv4 PI resources.

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Kind regards,
Oleksandr Tsaran
NET-CITY 2020 LLC
RIPE NCC Member