Govt launches National Internet Registry

The Centre has announced the the launch of the National internet Registry (NIR) to enable allocation of IP addresses. Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology Kapil Sibal launched the portal. The move basically means cheaper IP addresses for internet service providers.

NIR will coordinate the allocation of IP addresses with other internet resource managements and function at a national level in the country. National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) was recognised in March last year to become the NIR for the country.

NIR functions under the overall umbrella of Regional Internet Registry (RIR), which is Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC) based in Brisbane, Australia. Till now, the process involved buying the IP address via APNIC which was more time-consuming and expensive. Now NIR will be the local stop for the same.

Setting up of NIR under NIXI will not only reduce cost in procuring IP address, but will also facilitate faster access to information for cyber crime investigators and Government authorities, stated the official announcement.

NIR will be offering these IP addresses to ISPs at a 70% cheaper rate than the existing APNIC pricing, suggested a report by The Hindu Businessline.

(Edited by Prem Udayabhanu)