About NRS
Reclaiming Sovereignty in the Digital Age
We empower businesses to reclaim ownership of their IP addresses and have a voice in how the Internet is governed—through a free, transparent, and community-driven IP market.
Message from NRS President
Paul Wollner
Let’s work together to create a better Internet for future generations.
As President of NRS, I work directly with each of our members to ensure they can own their IPs and participate in shaping global Internet policies.
Our strength comes from community, built on inclusion, diversity, and openness. Every member has a role to play in the evolution of the Internet.
Our journey
The untold story behind every IP address
In the early days of the Internet, IP addresses were nothing more than technical identifiers—and they were free to use. They helped connect networks, not define ownership or carry monetary value.
As the Internet expanded, global bodies known as Number Resource Government Bodies were formed to manage and allocate IP address resources efficiently across regions and organizations.
Over time, control over IP addresses has become highly centralized in the hands of a few policy specialists and registry executives. While some claim “the community owns IPs,” in reality, these few decide who gets connected—and who doesn’t. The consequences can affect entire businesses or even nations.
That’s why the Number Resource Society (NRS) was established: to give IP holders everywhere a strong, unified voice. We advocate for fair representation, true ownership, and an open future for Internet governance.
Our mission
Champion IP rights
Centralized governance means policy changes can revoke IP access, even from entire companies or nations. NRS advocates for transparency and accountability in how such powers are exercised.
Simplify policies
We simplify complex policies and terminology, making it easy for businesses to understand and act on their IP rights. We also provide timely guidance and updates to keep our members informed.
Deliver timely updates
At NRS, we proactively monitor and interpret policy shifts across RIRs and global bodies, then translate those updates into actionable insights for our members. We ensure you stay ahead—not caught off guard.
Restore ownership
At NRS, we believe the right to register and control IPs should lie with the actual businesses who operate the networks—not with centralized bodies. True ownership begins with control over registration rights.
In addition, we are committed to:
- Creating a transparent, open market for IP addresses
- Reducing unnecessary costs and bureaucracy in governance bodies
- Supporting governance candidates who represent our members’ voices
- Advocating for lower RIR membership fees
- Helping businesses regain control over their IP registration rights
Testimonials
What our supporters say
Historical statements
I have gained significant knowledge about Internet governance. I truly valued the collaborative effort in creating a visual representation of our involvement as internet service providers, and so on. I hope NRS continues to operate in this positive manner. The time spent together with NRS and fellow Internet players was genuinely enjoyable.
NRS has raised issues that are in the news, and we completely agree with them on the approach that aims to make things happen clearly, not through intimidation but through the desire to serve.
We thank NRS for its very edifying seminar which was a panel made up of all the stakeholders with an interactive debate which allowed us all to ask questions and understand the issues surrounding good governance. We wish NRS good luck.
NRS deserves the spotlight. Their seminar was a great success here in Burundi. The theme is chosen to interest end users but also internet service providers, etc. The challenge faced by NRS is great and we wish them great success.
It was a very nice seminar that we took part in. I really appreciated the theme: good governance of the Internet but above all NRS has equipped itself with experienced people to develop this very vast theme, full of complexity. We wish NRS to move forward and clean up this environment which has become very dangerous.
y.tianFirst published Updated