The IP Address Divide: The Quest of Developing Countries for an ITU-Based Distribution Regime
Journal of Information Technology & Politics, 11:1, 102-122, DOI: 10.1080/19331681.2013.873362 (2014)
Posted: 1 Mar 2014
Date Written: February 24, 2014
Abstract
There is discontentment among certain developing countries with regard to the geographical distribution of IPv4 addresses. They blame the IPv4 policies for creating an imbalanced distribution between developed and developing nations. With the introduction of IPv6, there are no signs of these concerns becoming things of the past, as evidenced in various initiatives that call for a UN-based address distribution regime. By reviewing the respective policies for IPv4 and IPv6 distribution, this article argues that at the heart of such concerns and initiatives lies the fact that the core policy features in IPv4 distribution, which are considered responsible for creating the imbalance, have made their way into IPv6 distribution policies. In addition, the assessment of other distribution alternatives reveals that an ITU-based IP address regime or at least the ITU-based proposals on the table thus far do not address the concerns raised by developing countries. Efforts to address such a concern should rather be directed at introducing policy options that would ensure a balanced distribution of IP addresses into the current regime. Ultimately, this article seeks to contribute to the discussion on future directions by suggesting a policy option that the current regime could embrace to alleviate such a genuine concern.
Keywords: Equitable distribution, Historical institutionalism, IP addresses and developing countries, IP address distribution models, IP address policy, IPv4, IPv6
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