A Regional Internet Registry (RIR) is an organization responsible for the distribution and management of internet number resources—primarily IP addresses (IPv4 and IPv6) and Autonomous System Numbers (ASNs)—within a specific geographic region. RIRs ensure that these critical resources are allocated fairly, efficiently, and according to policies developed by the internet community.
There are five RIRs globally:
- AFRINIC – Serving Africa
- APNIC – Asia Pacific Network Information Centre
- ARIN – American Registry for Internet Numbers (North America)
- LACNIC – Latin America and Caribbean
- RIPE NCC – Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Central Asia
These organizations operate under the guidance of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), which allocates large IP blocks to RIRs. In turn, RIRs allocate IP addresses and ASNs to Internet Service Providers (ISPs), data centers, enterprises, governments, and individuals who meet specific criteria.
Why Are RIRs Important?
RIRs play a critical role in the stability and structure of the global internet. They maintain public databases (WHOIS) of IP ownership, help prevent IP address conflicts, and support policy development through open, community-driven processes.
Additionally, with the increasing demand and limited supply of IPv4 addresses, RIRs help manage this scarcity while encouraging the transition to IPv6.
For organizations seeking to own their IP space, working with the appropriate RIR is a key first step. Organizations like NRS (https://nrs.help) assist individuals and companies in navigating the RIR application process and securing their own internet resources.
