The unused addresses are known as the “240/4” block and comprise most of the IPv4 addresses from 240.0.0.0 to 255.255.255.254 – a space that encompasses upwards of 268 million addresses, or about six percent of the entire IPv4 number space. For some perspective on the magnitude, at market rates, the addresses are worth around $7All this potential sits unused because in the early days of IPv4 they were set aside for future use or experiments.
Decades later, both decisions appear anachronistic, not least because the ham radio operators recently made more than $100 million by selling some of their IPv4 assets to Amazon – an extraordinary windfall and one that rankles given that the world all-but-exhausted its supply of fresh IPv4 addresses over a decade ago.
The reasoning is that many manufacturers of networking equipment don’t recognize 240/4 and simply won’t process packets sent to the millions of addresses the block contains. Doing so makes sense: why confuse users by letting them access addresses that aren’t connected to the public internet? The group imagines slow change to ensure that the block doesn’t disrupt the operation of the wider internet. The Project is pursuing its goal through the standards process: here is itsthat opposition to the plan has come from those who use the old argument about the need to replace or upgrade potentially billions of devices to ensure universal access to 240/4, citing the cost, risks, and potential ecological impact of upgrading the world’s networking device fleet.
The two feel that, in the hands of RIRs, the 240/4 block could therefore allow developing nations where telcos may not be ready for IPv6, and skills and equipment are scarce, to enjoy the benefits of greater competition as local companies use IPv4 resources to offer services.
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