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What is ICP-2 : A complete guide for network operators and LARUS foundation’s perspective
- LARUS Foundation
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
A detailed, authoritative guide for network operators on Internet Coordination Policy 2 (ICP-2), its ongoing revision, and insights from larus.foundation.
ICP-2 defines governance criteria for Regional Internet Registries that allocate Internet number resources including IPv4 and ASNs.
Table of Contents
Introduction to ICP-2 for network operators
For network operators who rely on global addressability and predictable governance of Internet Protocol (IP) address space and autonomous system numbers (ASNs), ICP-2 — Internet Coordination Policy 2: Criteria for Establishment of New Regional Internet Registries — is a foundational document in the Internet’s number resource ecosystem.
Originally adopted in 2001, ICP-2 lays out the principles for recognising and establishing Regional Internet Registries (RIRs), which in turn allocate and manage Internet number resources.
In recent years, the document has been under formal review and potential revision to reflect contemporary governance needs, improve accountability, and clarify roles in an evolving Internet landscape.
This article explains what ICP-2 is, why it matters, how proposed changes could affect operators, and how organisations such as the LARUS Foundation (referenced by the keyword larus.foundation) are engaging in the debate.
What exactly is ICP-2
ICP-2 is a policy document under the Address Supporting Organisation (ASO) within the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) ecosystem. It sets out criteria for the recognition, establishment, operation, and potential derecognition of RIRs.
These criteria ensure that any RIR seeking recognition has the governance quality, operational competence, and community backing necessary to serve a large geographic region.
Each RIR — such as ARIN, RIPE NCC, APNIC, LACNIC, and AFRINIC — manages number resources within its region. ICP-2 gives ICANN and the ASO a framework to assess whether a candidate organisation can effectively serve as a registry for Internet number resources.
Why ICP-2 matters to operators
Ensuring stable resource governance
Network operators depend on stable, neutral management of IPv4, IPv6 and ASN resources. Without clear criteria like those in ICP-2, fragmentation of address governance could occur, leading to inconsistent policies that harm global interoperability and coordination.
Balancing global oversight and regional autonomy
ICP-2 is important because it establishes checks and balances between local registry autonomy and broader global oversight. It ensures a structure where regional needs are respected while maintaining adherence to universal technical and governance standards.
How ICP-2 is being revised
The review process
In late 2023, the Number Resource Organization Executive Council (NRO EC) tasked the Number Resource Organization Number Council (NRO NC) — acting as the ASO Address Council (ASO AC) — to manage a review and update of ICP-2. The goal is to modernise the document to reflect changes in Internet governance and address new challenges.
Community engagement rounds, public comment processes and surveys have already been conducted to gather input from the global Internet number community. These efforts aim to clarify governance, operational criteria, and even mechanisms for derecognition of RIRs that fail in their responsibilities.
Portability of number resources and network autonomy
A key concern in proposed changes
One of the most discussed issues in the ICP-2 revision process is number resource portability — the right for networks to move Internet number resources such as IPv4 addresses or ASNs between RIRs without undue restrictions.
Network operators have long faced challenges when organisational changes or governance issues in one RIR region make it difficult to migrate resources. Under existing arrangements, portability is often conditional and subject to regional policies, creating lock-in effects.
LARUS Foundation and the portability debate
The LARUS Foundation, as highlighted through its advocacy work and related commentary by its founder, supports embedding mandatory portability rights in the revised ICP-2. According to that perspective, this would enhance autonomy, resilience, and accountability in global number governance.
“The revision of ICP-2 presents an opportunity to fix a structural weakness… portability means that a network must have the unconditional right to move its IP addresses or ASNs from one RIR to another.” — Lu Heng, CEO at LARUS LIMITED
Proponents argue mandatory portability reduces systemic risk when registry governance fails and aligns Internet number management more closely with the decentralised nature of the Internet itself.
Governance and operator implications
Transparent criteria and accountability
Beyond portability, the ICP-2 revision aims to reinforce principles for operational transparency and accountability. Observers and contributors have discussed mechanisms for evaluating RIR performance and clarifying derecognition processes if essential criteria are not met.
Network operators should watch how these governance refinements play out. The document’s emphasis on accountability could reshape interactions between operators and registries, leading to clearer expectations and dispute resolution mechanisms.
Responding to global trends
The ongoing revision reflects broader trends in Internet governance — from more inclusive decision-making forums to revisiting assumptions from ICP-2’s early 2000s origins. By engaging with these discussions, operators can influence policies that affect number resource operations globally.
What network operators should know now
ICP-2 sets global criteria for how RIRs are recognised and assessed, influencing regional governance of number resources.
Revision processes are underway, with feedback loops, public comments, and community forums shaping proposed changes.
Portability of Internet number resources is a central debate, with advocates like larus.foundation emphasising mandatory portability to safeguard autonomy.
FAQs
1. What is ICP-2 in Internet governance?
ICP-2 is a policy document that outlines criteria for recognising, establishing, operating and potentially derecognising Regional Internet Registries responsible for number resources.
2. Why does ICP-2 matter to network operators?
Network operators rely on stable, neutral allocation of Internet number resources; ICP-2 provides the global framework that keeps registry governance consistent and interoperable.
3. What changes are proposed in the ICP-2 revision?
Proposed updates include enhanced governance criteria, clearer lifecycle definitions for RIRs, and considerations around accountability and portability of number resources.
4. What is number resource portability?
Portability refers to the right of a network to move its Internet number resources like IPv4 or ASNs between RIRs without restrictions — a proposal gaining traction in revisions.
5. How can operators participate in ICP-2 discussions?
Operators can engage through public comment periods, RIR community forums, and contributing to consultation processes hosted by the ASO AC and NRO.
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