Complete transition to 32-bite numbers of autonomous sustems will BE ACCOMPLISHED in 2010
The ICANN draft decision on principles of allocation of autonomous systems numbers has been submitted for final discussion.
The need for transition to 32-bite numbers and removal from circulation of 16-bite numbers has been mounting for long. The fact of the matter is that there are slightly over 65,000 16-bite numbers and over 4 billion 32-bite numbers. In other words every adult individual on the planet can get a proper autonomous system number if need be and, correspondingly, one can think that in the near future this address resource will not exhaust.
As of today the majority of autonomous systems (AS) have two numbers –that is, 16-bite and 32-bite ones (the allocation of 32-bite numbers began once it had become clear that the supply of 16-bite numbers was just about to end). At the same time, there arose quite a number of autonomous systems with solely 32-bite numbers which leads to serious confusions: on the one hand, owners of 32-bite AS are forced to support the 16-bite routing, while on the other – the outdated 16-bite AS hardly process 32-bite addresses. This state of affairs poses a real threat to the Internet’s connectivity.
Previously the ICANN has set 31 December 2009 as the deadline for 16-bite numbers and the universal transition to 32-bite numbers. However, the universal transition has failed to take place, because most RIRs cited many providers’ refusal to abandon 16-bite AS numbers. While processing 32-bite numbers, edge routers of the older generation significantly reduce speed of routed networks. At the same time, equipment designed for 16-bite numbers has not yet overaged, nor it has been fully replaced with modern one.
The ICANN has set up the new transition deadline, that is 31 December 2010. The final decision on the issue should be taken on 13 August 2010 once the final discussion has been over.
