If you have a phone, a computer, or a smart tv, then the chances of you having not just one IPv4 address but multiple. If you are unfamiliar with what an IPv4 address is, allow us to give you a short explanation. If you imagine it to be a regular IP address, you would be correct. Internet Protocol version 4, or IPv4, is a long and characteristic number that is assigned to the devices you own that connect to the internet to communicate with other devices. Every single device connecting to the internet has its own individual Internet Protocol address designated to it.
IPv4 is the standard for addressing internet traffic, and it works with 32-bit addresses. IPv4 allows for a maximum of 4.3 billion unique addresses. It runs on top of the TCP/IP protocol suite, which allows devices to communicate with each other.
The bottom layer of IPv4 is the network layer. This layer manages how packets are sent and received across the network. The next layer up is the transport layer, which determines how packets are delivered to their destination. Finally, at the application layer, different applications can send packets and receive responses.
One important thing to note is that IPv4 doesn’t use IP addresses as individual identifiers; it uses addresses as a 16-bit identifier that pairs together an address and a port number. Routers use these port numbers to identify specific services on the internet.
Why did we switch from IPv4 to IPv6?
Originally, IPv6 was designed for networks that were expanding past 4 billion unique addresses but ran into issues when trying to transition from IPv4 to IPv6 due to overlapping address ranges and incompatible technologies. After years of research and development, global governance bodies created a new version of IP called IPv6 which features 128-bit address space (compared to 32 bits in IPv4) and better manages routing table entries so that communication can be routed without overlapping networks
Due to every Internet Protocol version 4 address being distinctive, no two IPv4 addresses will be the same, this means that each address space is its own. Once that is gone there will be no other like it. In the 80s when the IPv4 address became officially established to the world, there were over 4 billion of them made. There were no more than that, and no more being made. In 2019, the RIPE NCC declared that all the IPv4 addresses they had, had been exhausted. This was a long time coming, with the world population doubling since the 80s and the internet of things exploding, it came as no surprise that 4 billion IPv4 addresses would not be enough.
Now, the transfer market of the Internet Protocol version 4 addresses is booming. In our age of technology and media, it has become more than vital for companies to have enough IPv4 address space to maintain their online presence and business. So the demand is mainly different companies, organizations, and businesses seeking to get more of the address space in their custody. Other businesses, organizations, companies, or any other party that for one reason or another have no use for the address space they have can sell it for a pretty penny.
If you want to enter this market, here is what you need to do to get started.
The value of IPv4
If you want to either sell or buy IPv4 addresses, their value should be the first thing you research. Ever since its official exhaustion, IPv4 demand went sky high, and every year the price for one goes up.
Your options
Buying and selling IPv4 is not the only option anymore with IPv4s, you can now also lease it. Leasing has proved to be a lot less of a hassle and people very much prefer it over selling and buying.
IP brokers
If you don’t want to get scammed, you might want to consider working with an IP broker. They have been working in this market for years, they know the ins and outs. They will also be able to get you a good deal, one that you will not be able to get on your own.
What is IPv4 transfer market?
In the IPv4 transfer market, companies offer their customers the transferring services of IPv4 addresses. There are different types of transfers available in this market: wholesale, bulk, and individual. Wholesale transfers involve selling IPv4 addresses to various customers at a set price. Bulk transfers involve distributing IPv4 addresses among a number of customers at a fixed price. Individual transfers involve purchasing or leasing an individual IPv4 address from a company.
The main drivers of the IPv4 transfer market are the growing demand for IPv6 and the decreasing availability of IPv4 addresses. The demand for IPv6 is driven by the increasing number of devices that support it and the need for networks to be able to support billions more devices in the future. The shortage of IPv4 addresses is caused by the ongoing deployment of routers and switches that require specific types of IP addresses, as well as by businesses transitioning to new addressing models (such as global unicast).
How to find an IPv4 Transfer Provider?
If you’re looking to move your IPv4 address space over to a new provider, there are a few things to keep in mind.
First, make sure you know what type of provider you’re looking for. There are three main types of providers: transit, hosting, and Edge. Transit providers simply move your addresses from one location to another – they don’t offer any services themselves. Hosting providers offer both transit and hosting services, while Edge providers provide only hosting services.
Conclusion
IPv4 transfer market is expected to grow at a CAGR of almost 19% through 2024 due to the growing adoption of cloud, mobility, and edge solutions. However, factors such as a lack of IPv4 address resources and complaints about IP theft are hampering growth. The report offers an in-depth analysis of key players in the IPv4 transfer market, along with their current positioning and future prospects.
Next, take into account your budget. Some providers offer lower-cost plans while others offer more expensive options. Finally, be sure to research the provider before choosing them – there are a variety of negative reviews out there that can give you an idea of how reputable the company is.
There are many benefits to using an IPv4 transfer provider. Some of the benefits include:
– Reduced latency and improved performance.
– Increased bandwidth and reduced LTE congestion.
– Increased reliability and security.
– Reduced costs.