RIPE NCC: What Is It and What Does It Do?

First published on 16 April 2025, with an update recorded on 21 August 2026. The original wording is preserved below, with NRS clarifications dated 5 October 2026. RIPE community policy, RIPE NCC association governance and historical 2023 charges are distinguished from current conditions.

What is RIPE?

RIPE is The regional Internet register (RIR) for portions of Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. It's known as RIPE NCC (Réseaux IP Européens Network Coordination Centre). RIPE's main office is in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and a branch office is located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

NRS clarification · 5 October 2026. RIPE is an open community; RIPE NCC is the registry and membership association. The original uses the names interchangeably. These are different bodies with different decision processes.

You can also open the current NRS guide to regional registries directly.

RIPE is like any RIR, responsible for managing the distribution and registration of Internet number resources (including IPv4 and IPv6 addresses as well as autonomous system numbers) in the areas that RIPE represents.

The coordination of the Internet's technical and administrative aspects is supported by the RIPE NCC. RIPE is a non-profit membership organization with more than 10,000 members, spread over more than 76 nations in its service area.

NRS clarification · 5 October 2026. The membership and country figures are historical, not a current count. They refer to the RIPE NCC association, not to RIPE community participation.

RIPE NCC is open to joining from any person or organization. Internet service providers (ISPs), telecom organizations, educational institutions, governmental agencies, and regulatory.

NRS clarification · 5 October 2026. RIPE NCC membership is subject to its admission requirements. RIPE community participation does not require that membership.

RIPE's History

In April 1992, the RIPE NCC launched its activities in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The academic networks EARN and EUnet, which are members of Réseaux Associés pour la Recherche Européenne (RARE), supplied the initial funding. When the Dutch translation of the Articles of Organization was filed with the Amsterdam Chamber of Commerce on November 12, 1997, the RIPE NCC was formally created. In May 1991, the initial RIPE NCC Action Plan was released.

NRS clarification · 5 October 2026. Operational launch, incorporation and the start of the association structure are distinct milestones. RIPE NCC started operating in April 1992; the association structure has operated since 1998. The original funding description is retained as historical wording.

On November 25, 2019, RIPE NCC published the following announcement: "With the last remaining addresses in our accessible pool, we have made our final /22 IPv4 allocation. The supply of IPv4 addresses has now ran out. When allocating IPv4 addresses, RIPE NCC will only accept applications from organizations that have closed, gone out of business, or or from networks that return addresses they no longer require or are closed. Our members (LIRs) will receive these addresses based on where they are on a new waiting list. Also, the message urged support for the rollout of IPv6.

NRS clarification · 5 October 2026. The passage confuses the source of recovered IPv4 addresses with applicant eligibility. Closed networks and returned addresses supply the recovered pool; eligible applicants receive allocations through the waiting list. Delivery depends on available recovered resources and is not guaranteed by a date. The current rule permits one /24 allocation (256 addresses) per eligible LIR account that has never received an IPv4 allocation from RIPE NCC. The historical /22 statement is not the current waiting-list allocation size.

RIPE's Activities

Throughout its service area and beyond, RIPE NCC supports technical coordination of the Internet infrastructure. It engages in a variety of activities in this field, such as:

Resource allotment and registration for Internet numbers (IP addresses and autonomous system numbers)

For a number of reasons, IP address distribution is crucial. Public addresses must be distinct; if a network had two identical internet addresses, network traffic might be sent to the incorrect host. The RIRs guarantee that only one organization receives public speeches. This is carried out by the RIPE NCC for its own service area. IANA assigns blocks of addresses to the RIRs globally, who then pass these addresses on to end users via the LIRs (normally ISPs).

NRS clarification · 5 October 2026. The phrase “public speeches” is an error in the original. The subject is unique address registration, which does not by itself prevent routing errors or hijacks.

Due to the scarcity of IPv4 addresses, it's crucial to ensure that IP addresses and AS Numbers are only assigned to one user and that the remaining addresses are distributed in a systematic way. Since RIPE Document ripe-498 was published, the RIPE NCC has strictly adhered to the rules established by the RIPE Community for allocating IPv4 numbers. Only a limited number of new IPv4 addresses will be available for allocation by the RIPE NCC because the final /8 block has already been distributed among all the RIRs by IANA.

NRS clarification · 5 October 2026. ripe-498 and the last /8 description belong to an earlier policy context. Current allocation, waiting-list, transfer and IPv6 conditions must be checked separately.

- Development, operation and maintenance of the RIPE Database.

- Development, operation and maintenance of the RIPE Routing Registry.

- Operation of K-root, one of the world's root name servers.

- Coordination support for ENUM delegations.

NRS clarification · 5 October 2026. ENUM support is retained here as part of the historical service description, not as a verified promise of current availability.

- Collection and publication of neutral statistics on Internet development and performance, notable via the RIPE Atlas global measurement network and RIPE state; a web-based interface providing information about IP address space, autonomous system numbers, and related information for hostnames and countries.

NRS clarification · 5 October 2026. The service name is RIPEstat, not “RIPE state”. Measurement and information services do not themselves confer administrative control over a network.

RIPE organizational structure

RIPE NCC is made up of:

Members

Members have direct control over the RIPE NCC's operations and offerings. Members are in charge of proposing and choosing candidates for the RIPE NCC executive board, as well as adopting the organization's billing structure and approving its annual financial report. Members also offer feedback and suggestions regarding the RIPE NCC's operations and services.

NRS clarification · 5 October 2026. Members exercise rights through the association’s procedures; this does not mean each member directs staff or independently decides number-resource policy. RIPE community consensus is a separate process.

Executive board

RIPE NCC members nominate and elect the executive board. The board consists of between three and seven members and is responsible for appointing the RIPE NCC's managing director, for the overall financial situation of the RIPE NCC and for keeping records that allow the financial situation of the organization to be evaluated at any time.

RIPE NCC staff

Staff members perform the activities of the RIPE NCC, provide services to its members and provide administrative support to RIPE.

RIPE Databases

RIPE Registry

The IP addresses and AS numbers that were initially assigned to members by the RIPE NCC are registered in the public database known as the RIPE Database. It displays who currently owns which Internet number resources, when the allocations were made, and contact information for those organizations or people. Information in the database must be updated by the organizations or people who own these resources.

NRS clarification · 5 October 2026. Registration and contact information do not by themselves settle every legal question of address ownership. Responsible organisations must maintain their records.

RIPE Routing Registry

A portion of the RIPE Database, the RIPE Routing Registry (RR) stores routing data in RPSL. The Internet RR, a group of databases that mirror one another, includes the RIPE RR.

NRS clarification · 5 October 2026. Registered routing policy, observed BGP announcements and other IRR records must be checked separately; the description is not a guarantee that they always match.

RIPE NCC Charging Fees 2023

The 2023 Charging Scheme was approved by the RIPE NCC membership at the May 2022 General Meeting (GM).

NRS clarification · 5 October 2026. The following charges and billing dates are explicitly a 2023 historical record. The 2026 schedule lists EUR1,800 per LIR account annually, EUR75 per independent assignment, EUR50 per ASN assignment and a EUR1,000 sign-up fee, subject to its definitions and conditions.

RIPE NCC Charging Scheme 2023

An increase of EUR 150 in the 2023 annual contribution (service fee) per LIR account was approved at the May 2022 GM. This increase was in response to rising economic uncertainty, inflation, and a potential reduction in the number of paying members.

The separate charge of EUR 50 per Independent Internet Number resource assignment will be continued. Resources falling under this charge are IPv4 and IPv6 PI assignments; Any-cast assignments; IPv4 and IPv6 IXP assignments; and Legacy IPv4 resource registrations through a sponsoring LIR. AS Numbers are excluded from this charge.

NRS clarification · 5 October 2026. The ASN exclusion in this historical 2023 description is not current: consult the separately dated 2026 schedule linked below.

Charge basis:

per LIR account

Annual fee:

EUR 1,550 per LIR account + (EUR 50 per Independent number resource assignment – see definition above)

Sign-up fee:

EUR 1,000

Billing and Invoicing

The Independent Internet number resource information for members will be determined based on data gathered on 31 December 2022. Invoices will be sent in the first quarter of 2023.

References:

- https://www.ripe.net

- Regional Internet Registries

The original redirect remains above. A direct NRO reference is also available.

- ripe-ncc-rir-overview-and-main-terms-ip-owners-should-know

Take the issue to the body that can decide it

• Resource policy: contribute reasoned proposals through RIPE working groups and mailing lists. The PDP seeks consensus; it is not a membership ballot.
• Association governance: check membership standing, meeting registration, voting eligibility and proxy procedures before elections or financial votes. Additional LIR accounts do not give the same member extra votes.
• Since 29 September 2026, acquiring additional LIR accounts under existing memberships is temporarily restricted, including pending requests. Existing accounts are not ordered closed, and the decision does not itself amend IPv4 policy.
• NRS’s position: operators whose businesses depend on these records need meaningful influence. Participation must make it possible to raise objections, organise support and hold decision-makers accountable for outcomes.

Sources checked on 5 October 2026

The RIPE–RIPE NCC relationship, Articles of Association and PDP distinguish responsibilities. The IPv4 waiting-list guidance, 2026 charging scheme and 195th Board minutes document current conditions. Historical references remain above.

Understand the dependence, then choose how to act

NRS examines structural risks in registry governance and offers support through NRS Shield. To ask NRS to represent you in policy or election matters, review POA and representation separately: scope, duration and revocation matter. Reading, membership or support does not automatically grant authority. A POA does not transfer address ownership or replace RIPE NCC eligibility, proxy registration and meeting procedures.