LACNIC Explained: IPv4 Transfers in Latin America

By Savvas Bout, Founder of Prefixx. Last updated 27 August 2026.

We track all IPv4 address space from Latin America back to LACNIC, the Regional Internet Registry for Latin America since 2002.

LACNIC has its own community policy which differs from that of ARIN, RIPE NCC, APNIC and AFRINIC for IPv4 address space management. This means that rules for IPv4 address space transfers, for use of already assigned legacy address space.

The secondary market for IP addresses has brought attention to LACNIC space from outside the Latin American area.

Getting the best deal requires understanding how LACNIC processes transfer requests, what inter-RIR transfers entail, and where facilitated transfers differ from direct registration of addresses.

What is LACNIC and why does it matter for latin america internet development?

LACNIC (Latin American and Caribbean Internet Addresses Registry) is a non-profit organization created in 2002 that is based in Montevideo, Uruguay. It is the Regional Internet Registry for 33 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. It assigns IP addresses and AS Numbers to organizations and individuals within the zone. For more context, see LACNIC.

LACNIC manages internet addresses among five regional registries

The 5 Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) distribute the global address space by geographical areas. There are 5 RIRs whose members include LACNIC (co-located with ARIN), RIPE NCC (co-located with LACNIC), APNIC, and AFRINIC (co-located with APNIC). Each RIR is responsible for the allocation of address space and independently manages policy, transfer rules, charging, and training on those processes. AFRINIC serves the continent of Africa, managing address space allocation and policy development for internet service providers and organizations across that geographic territory.

All RIRs coordinate with IANA, the organization that delegates large address blocks to each registry for subsequent distribution to members within their respective service areas. IANA operates under the oversight of ICANN, which coordinates the global domain name system and ensures the stability of internet identifiers worldwide. Each RIR operates as an independent entity with its own governance structure, ensuring that regional needs and technical requirements are addressed without centralized control from other registries.

Latin american and caribbean resource allocation by service region

LACNIC is responsible for a territory that covers Latin America and the Caribbean. Countries from Mexico in the north to Argentina in the south, as well as a number of island nations in the Caribbean, are covered by LACNIC. A company with operations in Brazil, for example, will receive IP allocations and ASNs from LACNIC, or from a local ISP that is a member of LACNIC. The registry maintains detailed records of allocations across the entire caribe and Latin American service area, ensuring proper documentation of resource holders.

Organizations seeking to understand allocation procedures often review documentation of the administrative processes maintained by the registry for transparency and compliance purposes. Managing internet addresses in this region requires coordination between local providers and the central registry to keep the records up to date. The registry also coordinates with ecom lac initiatives to support electronic commerce infrastructure development across member territories.

Caribbean internet resources registry transfers and community support

LACNIC cross-registry moves are facilitated by our team, rather than as a direct transfer mechanism. We handle the paperwork and coordinate with LACNIC for you. We prepare the routing objects, LOAs and RPKI ROAs for the block to be transferred, and then see what LACNIC does with them on a day to day basis.

How Prefixx facilitates IPv4 transfers in américa latina y caribe

Prefixx is a registered ARIN broker , RIPE NCC broker and APNIC broker .

• Tixx quality-control checks on every block for ownership, blacklists, routing hygiene and RIR standing.
• LOA, RPKI ROA and IRR route objects that we, the consultants, have prepared.
• Escrow-secured closing with zero buyer fees; seller-only commission of 3 to 8%.
• Inter-RIR transfer support detailed at Prefixx.net/inter-RIR-transfer.

For Your LACNIC-coverage area block, contact us for a comparison of available options, or to obtain a custom quote.

Core functions and frequently asked questions about LACNIC

How do LACNIC resource management presentations compare to RIPE NCC submissions?

LACNIC stands for the Latin America and Caribbean Network Information Centre. It is the regional internet registry responsible for managing and distributing internet number resources across the Latin American region and the Caribbean islands. The name reflects both its geographic scope and its core function as a coordination body for the organizations and internet infrastructure serving the area.

Where does LACNIC handle resource management and operations?

LACNIC is headquartered in Montevideo, Uruguay. The Montevideo office serves as the central point for rulemaking, member services, and resource administration across the entire Latin American and Caribbean address space.

Who is LACNIC and what is its role in internet resources?

LACNIC is one of the five Regional Internet Registries that collectively manage the global IPv4 and IPv6 address space, along with Autonomous System Numbers. Its specific mandate covers Central America, South America and the Caribbean. It allocates IP resources to internet service providers, enterprises, and other internet service providers in the network zone, and it develops the policies that govern the use of those resources and how they are transferred.

What services does LACNIC provide to network operators?

LACNIC allocates IPv4 and IPv6 address blocks and ASNs to qualifying organizations .

How does LACNIC differ from the other RIRs?

LACNIC is the youngest of the five RIRs globally, having received full recognition after ARIN, RIPE NCC, APNIC, and AFRINIC were already established.

What happened to lacnic's free IPv4 pool?

LACNIC exhausted its free IPv4 pool as part of the global depletion discussed at every ICANN meeting, which saw all five global RIRs empty their reserves between 2011 and 2020. Once the free pool ran out, LACNIC moved to a waiting-list model for members seeking any residual allocations from returned or reclaimed space. The final free allocations were distributed in august 2020, marking the end of an era for organizations seeking new address blocks without entering the secondary market.

How do I acquire IPv4 addresses in the LACNIC region today?

The primary route is the secondary market: purchasing or leasing address blocks from existing holders through a registered broker. LACNIC transfer policies govern what can move and under what conditions across el caribe and Latin America, so working with a broker experienced in LACNIC-facilitated transactions is important. Prefixx plays a crucial role in inter-RIR transfers across ARIN, RIPE NCC, and APNIC directly, and facilitates LACNIC transfers, managing the paperwork and registry coordination on the client's behalf.

LACNIC (Latin American and Caribbean area IP address Registry) is the technical and policy body in charge of the assignment of IP ranges and AS numbers as well as the enforcement of good routing practices in the Western Hemisphere and the Caribbean zone.

As a member organization of LACNIC, you have a voice and participate directly in the definition of the policies that affect your redes and assets. Knowing how LACNIC works is essential when you need to assign, transfer or announce IP IPv4 resources in the geographic zone.

The secondary market is now the only path to new IPv4 resources. LACNIC facilitates transfers, but navigating the paperwork, eligibility checks, and routing configuration requires expertise most teams do not keep in-house. Prefixx handles LACNIC-geographic area deals end to end: sourcing vetted blocks, managing the transfer process, and preparing every routing document your team needs. Contact Prefixx to discuss what address space is available in your geographic territory today.