IPv4 still dominates, but transition to IPv6 cecomes urgent, RIPE NCC report finds

The RIPE Network Coordination Centre (RIPE NCC) has released its latest publication, The State of IPv4 and the Evolving Transfer Landscape, analysing how the global shortage of IPv4 addresses continues to shape the internet’s infrastructure, economy, and policy landscape.

Drawing on interviews with network operators, cloud providers, regulators, and industry experts, along with registry data, the report describes a market that has become increasingly dependent on IPv4 transfers – the buying, selling, or leasing of address blocks – as a survival mechanism in the face of exhaustion. Although IPv6 offers an abundant supply of addresses, adoption remains uneven, creating what the report calls a ‘new kind of digital divide.’

The state of IPv4

Since the global pool of IPv4 addresses was depleted in 2011, their scarcity has transformed them into a tradable commodity. Early adopters, such as large telecoms and research networks, now hold a disproportionate share of available addresses, while new entrants and smaller providers rely on secondary transfers or temporary leases. The report shows that organisations increasingly turn to technologies such as Carrier-Grade NAT (CGNAT) to extend IPv4 usability, though this adds technical complexity and security risks.

While the IPv4 transfer market peaked around 2022, prices have since stabilised at around €30 per address, reflecting a shift from speculative trading to operational necessity. The report notes that most remaining transfers are driven by genuine network requirements rather than profit motives.

Policy and market implications

RIPE NCC’s analysis highlights how market concentration continues to reflect global economic inequalities: wealthier and more established members – mainly from Western Europe – control the majority of IPv4 resources, while newer operators in developing markets hold less than 5% of total allocations.

The report also discusses the regulatory dimension, noting that while RIPE NCC is not a regulator, it plays a crucial role in maintaining the accuracy of internet address records, a function vital to law enforcement, cybersecurity, and digital governance. Governments, meanwhile, express growing concern about IP address leasing and traceability, particularly for cross-border data flows and digital crime investigations.

IPv6: Progress and challenges

Although IPv6 has been available for years, the report finds that many organisations still view migration as technically complex or commercially unnecessary. As of 2025, global adoption has surpassed 40%, with France (81%), Germany (76%), and Saudi Arabia (62%) leading. However, regions such as Central Asia lag far behind, with adoption rates under 5%.

Interviewees cited costs, compatibility issues, and lack of executive understanding as the main obstacles to IPv6 transition. In some countries, security agencies have even resisted IPv6 deployment due to monitoring challenges.

Why the report matters

RIPE NCC’s findings are significant for network operators, regulators, and policymakers alike. They provide a clear picture of how IPv4 scarcity continues to influence the global internet’s structure, and how delayed IPv6 adoption risks perpetuating digital inequality.

For civil society and digital policy organisations, the report offers valuable data to support debates on internet governance, equitable access, and sustainable infrastructure. It highlights how resource management, though technical in nature, directly affects who can participate in the digital economy and how resilient the internet remains for future generations.