RIR

RIR stands for Regional Internet Registry, a nonprofit organization that manages the distribution and registration of Internet number resources within a defined geographic region. RIRs operate within the global framework for Internet resource management, coordinating with the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) and the Number Resource Organization (NRO) to ensure accurate, globally consistent allocation and registration of resources.

There are five RIRs: ARIN serves North America; RIPE NCC covers Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Central Asia; APNIC serves the Asia-Pacific region; LACNIC handles Latin America and the Caribbean; and AFRINIC serves Africa. The five bodies work together through the NRO to present unified input on policy and to coordinate resource distribution globally.

The primary functions of RIRs include the allocation and registration of IPv4 and IPv6 address blocks and Autonomous System Numbers (ASNs). They maintain public registration databases, often referred to as WHOIS or IRR, for resource holders and support policy development through open, community-driven processes. RIRs also manage resource transfers and oversee compliance with regionally specific policies while aligning with global guidelines.

Policy development within each RIR is carried out by a broad community of network operators, ISPs, researchers, and other stakeholders through open forums and public comment periods. Decisions are typically made by stakeholder-supported boards in a bottom-up fashion, with the aim of fair access, efficient use of scarce resources, and promotion of IPv6 adoption.

Governance and funding for RIRs come from member organizations, registration fees, and sponsorships. While each region operates independently, the RIRs collaborate under the NRO umbrella to represent Internet resource interests to IANA, ICANN, and other international bodies.