Re: More NICs around the World are Needed

["David R. Conrad" <davidc@apnic.net>]

Hi,

A clarification:

>For instance, Middle Eastern countries still have to go through
>IANA for TLD and DNS issues.  APNIC only covers countries eastward
>to include Iran.  

a) APNIC does not handle TLD or DNS issues (with two exceptions, namely
20[23] and 21[01].in-addr.arpa and "national NIC" xxNIC.NET domains names
for countries in the AP region for historical reasons).

b) Iran is in the European Registry's (RIPE-NCC) realm of service.

c) RIPE-NCC also does not deal with TLD and DNS issues.

>This leaves over 21 countries that fall in the geographical gap between the
>APNIC and the European NIC areas of management.  

In terms of address allocations (not DNS related issues), many countries
classified as "middle east" have gone with RIPE-NCC.  Countries which have
not decided what registry is appropriate for them can contact any of the
registries and indicate which registry they would like to service their
request.  Note that generally, the first ISP to contact a registry defines
where all ISPs in the country go.

With respect to the establishment of MENIC, I personally would encourage its
establishment, however the largest roadblock on the construction of
additional regional registries has been getting various parties to agree as
to who the regional registry should be and who it should represent.  I would
tend to think this problem would also exist for ISPs in the Middle East.
Also, I would note that traditionally regional (address allocation)
registries (with the exception of InterNIC for historical reasons) stay as
far away from DNS issues as they can (and InterNIC is spinning of the
address allocation portion of their registry RSN).

Regards,
-drc