Table of Contents
AFRINIC
What is AFRINIC?
The African Network Information Centre (AFRINIC) is the Regional Internet Registry (RIR) responsible for the allocation and registration of Internet number resources – IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, as well as Autonomous System Numbers (ASNs) – across the African continent and parts of the Indian Ocean region.
Headquartered in Ebene, Mauritius, AFRINIC is a non-profit, membership-based organisation that operates with a strong emphasis on community development, capacity building, and supporting Internet growth in one of the world’s most rapidly expanding but still underserved regions. It works closely with national and regional stakeholders to promote sustainable, inclusive Internet infrastructure.
Brief History of AFRINIC
AFRINIC was established in 2005 as the fifth and final RIR, completing the global regional registry system. Prior to its creation, African networks obtained resources from other RIRs (primarily RIPE NCC and ARIN), which created administrative challenges and limited local policy input.
The organisation emerged from a multi-year community effort coordinated by AfNOG (African Network Operators Group) and supported by existing RIRs. It was formally incorporated in Mauritius in 2004 and began operations in 2005, taking over responsibility for the African region.
AFRINIC reached IPv4 exhaustion in 2019, later than APNIC but earlier than some others, and has since focused heavily on IPv6 promotion, training programs, and routing security. Through the 2020s, it has expanded outreach, fellowships, and technical assistance to bridge digital divides across the continent.
How AFRINIC Works
AFRINIC follows the established RIR model of community-driven governance while placing extra emphasis on education and development.
Policy Development Process
Policies are developed through an open, consensus-based Policy Development Process (PDP). Anyone can submit proposals, discuss them on public mailing lists, and present at AFRINIC meetings (held twice yearly, often alongside AIS – Africa Internet Summit). Consensus is reached openly, and the Board ratifies agreed policies.
This inclusive process accommodates the region’s diversity, from established operators in South Africa and Egypt to emerging networks in smaller nations.
Resource Registration and WHOIS
AFRINIC maintains the regional WHOIS database, providing registration details via traditional queries and modern RDAP interfaces.
Resource requests are handled through the MyAFRINIC portal, evaluated by hostmasters, and registered publicly. AFRINIC also supports RPKI for routing security.
Example WHOIS Entry (simplified): inetnum: 196.1.0.0 - 196.1.255.255 netname: AFRINIC-NET descr: African Network Information Centre country: MU admin-c: AFR1-AFRINIC tech-c: AFR1-AFRINIC status: ALLOCATED mnt-by: AFRINIC-HM-MNT
Membership and Funding
Funding comes mainly from membership fees scaled by resource holdings, supplemented by training and project income. Members elect the Board and participate in governance.
Resource Allocation and Policies
AFRINIC manages:
- IPv4: Exhausted since 2019; limited soft-landing allocations and transfer market.
- IPv6: Abundant, with policies encouraging deployment.
- ASNs: Allocated on demonstrated need (multi-homing or routing policy).
| Resource Type | Current Status (2026) | Key Policy Notes |
|---|---|---|
| IPv4 | Exhausted; soft-landing & transfers | Final phase allocations; inter-RIR transfers |
| IPv6 | Abundant | Minimum /48 for end-users, larger for ISPs |
| ASNs | 32-bit primary | Need-based (multi-homing justification) |
Special provisions support critical infrastructure and new entrants.
Key Players and Membership
Members include major African ISPs (MTN, Vodacom, Liquid Telecom, Orange affiliates), national research networks, governments, and growing numbers of cloud and content providers. The Board of Directors and governance structures reflect regional diversity.
AFRINIC coordinates globally via the NRO and regionally through AfNOG, AIS, and national IGFs.
Practical Uses and Services
AFRINIC offers extensive support beyond allocation:
- MyAFRINIC portal for resource management
- WHOIS/RDAP services
- RPKI and IRR infrastructure
- Comprehensive training academy (classroom and online)
- Fellowships for meeting attendance
- Technical assistance and community grants
- Internet measurement and research tools
- Routing security initiatives
These services are crucial for building operational capacity in developing networks.
Challenges and Limitations
The African continent’s vast size, economic diversity, and infrastructure gaps create unique challenges. Many countries still have limited connectivity, making resource justification and registry accuracy difficult.
IPv4 scarcity and transfer costs disproportionately affect smaller operators. Political instability in some areas and multilingual needs add complexity to community engagement.
AFRINIC in Modern Networking
By 2026, AFRINIC plays a leading role in IPv6 deployment and routing security across Africa, with growing RPKI adoption helping combat hijacks. Its training programs have trained thousands of engineers, directly contributing to network expansion.
As submarine cables, data centers, and mobile broadband proliferate, AFRINIC adapts policies to support cloud adoption, IXPs, and community networks. Partnerships with governments and international organisations advance digital inclusion goals.
Summary
The African Network Information Centre has been a vital catalyst for Internet growth across Africa since 2005. Through community governance, extensive training, and focused support for emerging networks, AFRINIC helps bridge digital divides while managing scarce resources responsibly. As Africa’s Internet population surges, AFRINIC remains essential for sustainable, secure, and inclusive development of the continent’s digital infrastructure.
References
- AFRINIC Official Website
- AFRINIC Policy Manual
- AFRINIC Annual Reports
- Number Resource Organization Documentation
Sources
Information compiled from the official AFRINIC website, policy documents, meeting archives, WHOIS data, NRO reports, and industry resources up to 2026.