Metanet Helps ISPs, VPS Hosting Providers, Data Center Operators, and SaaS Companies obtain their own IP addresses an Autonomous System Numbers (ASN)
Introduction
At Metanet, we work with a wide range of internet-based companies — ISPs, hosting providers, VPS operators, marketers, and SaaS businesses. One of the most common questions we hear from our clients is:
“How can we get our own IP addresses or AS (Autonomous System) numbers?”
There are many reasons a company might want its own IP space or ASN. Some want to host their own addresses rather than continually leasing them from another provider. Others need the flexibility to advertise their IPs on major networks such as Comcast or Windstream. Many seek to multi-home their network to improve redundancy and performance.
In this article, we’ll explain why organizations pursue their own IP and AS numbers, and how Metanet’s specialized service helps customers through the entire process — from registration and justification to setup, validation, and ongoing support.
Why Companies Want Their Own IP Addresses and ASNs
There’s no single reason businesses pursue their own internet resources, but here are the most common ones we encounter:
1. Control and Independence
Owning your own IP addresses means you’re no longer dependent on another provider’s network. You can move infrastructure between data centers or carriers without losing your IP space — and without the pain of renumbering.
2. Multi-Homing and Redundancy
Organizations often request AS numbers so they can multi-home — connect to multiple upstream providers. This allows traffic to reroute automatically in case one provider fails, improving reliability and uptime.
3. Advertising on Major Networks
Some marketing and hosting companies want to advertise their networks on large ISPs like Comcast or Windstream. With an AS number, they can announce their own prefixes directly, increasing routing control and visibility.
4. Fixed IPs for Remote Access
Enterprises with remote teams often need fixed IPs for secure virtual desktops and VPNs. Owning IPs ensures consistent access and better control.
5. VPS and Hosting Providers
VPS and hosting companies often lease IPs from upstream providers. Over time, leasing is costly. Having your own IP addresses reduces costs, provides autonomy, and lets you offer VPS services under your own brand.
The Cost and Challenge of Acquiring IP Addresses
IPv4 space is limited and expensive. Many organizations now pursue allocations directly from regional internet registries (RIRs) such as:
- ARIN – American Registry for Internet Numbers (North America)
- RIPE NCC – Réseaux IP Européens (Europe, Middle East, Central Asia)
- APNIC – Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (Asia-Pacific region)
- AFRINIC – African Network Information Centre (Africa)
Each registry has different requirements, and the process can be complex. For example, ARIN uses a needs-based allocation system. There’s a waiting list, sometimes up to three years, but it’s not strictly first-come, first-served. Companies with stronger justification — such as those planning to multi-home or operate in multiple regions — may receive allocations much sooner.
How Metanet Helps You Obtain IP Addresses and ASNs
(ARIN, RIPE, APNIC, AFRINIC Services)
At Metanet, we’ve helped dozens of customers obtain their own IP space and AS numbers quickly and correctly. We offer a flat-rate service that covers every step — from setup and justification to RPKI, routing, and compliance.
1. Setting Up Your ARIN Account
We begin by creating your ARIN account and establishing an Org ID, which verifies your corporate identity with ARIN and sets up your organization’s profile for IP resource management.
2. Signing the RSA Contract
ARIN requires applicants to sign a Registration Services Agreement (RSA). We help prepare and complete this contract, ensuring everything is compliant and properly documented.
3. Applying for an AS Number
Next, we help you submit your ASN application, including the technical and business justification. This typically involves showing intent to multi-home or manage multiple routing policies.
4. Requesting IPv4 and IPv6 Allocations
Once your ASN is approved, we assist with requesting your IPv4 and IPv6 address space.
We handle the IP justification — the key part of the application — ensuring it aligns with registry policies. Whether you’re applying through ARIN, RIPE, APNIC, or AFRINIC, we provide the proper documentation and reasoning.
And once your account is set up, we can also help you obtain IPv6 allocations. As IPv6 adoption accelerates, many networks are future-proofing by integrating IPv6 alongside existing IPv4 operations.
5. Support Across All RIRs
Our experience extends beyond North America. We assist organizations worldwide in navigating:
- RIPE NCC (Europe, Middle East)
- APNIC (Asia-Pacific)
- AFRINIC (Africa)
Each registry has its own policies, timelines, and justification standards — and we’re experts at guiding clients through them efficiently.
Understanding the ARIN Waiting List
ARIN’s waiting list can be intimidating, but it’s important to know it’s not purely sequential. Allocations are made based on need, justification, and block availability.
A company in position 200, for example, could receive an allocation within six months if their justification meets certain criteria or if smaller block sizes become available.
Strong justifications include:
- Plans to multi-home with multiple providers
- Operating distributed networks across different cities
- Efficient use of existing IP space
- Providing critical infrastructure services
After You Get Your IPs: Configuration and Validation
Once your IP addresses and AS number are issued, Metanet continues to provide technical and administrative support to ensure your deployment is clean, secure, and fully recognized by other networks.
RPKI Setup
We help configure RPKI (Resource Public Key Infrastructure) to protect against route hijacking. This includes hosting your ROAs (Route Origin Authorizations) through ARIN or your respective RIR.
PeeringDB Registration
We create or update your PeeringDB profile — a critical public listing that internet backbones and IXPs use to verify your legitimacy. This includes:
- Prefix listings
- Facility and POP details
- Peering policies
- Exchange and location data
IP Reputation and Blacklist Checks
Before you announce your new IP space, we perform due diligence to confirm it’s clean. We scan blacklist databases and reputation trackers to ensure no legacy issues exist from previous allocations.
Geolocation Validation
Geolocation data — managed by providers like MaxMind and IP2Location — affects how major platforms (like Microsoft Azure or Google Cloud) treat your IPs.
If your IPs are incorrectly registered in the wrong country or city, services may malfunction or block access. We verify and correct these entries to ensure accurate geolocation and smooth integration with cloud providers.
Advanced Services: BGP Multihoming and Network Redundancy
For customers hosted in our data centers, we also provide BGP multihoming setup as a paid service.
This includes:
- Configuration between two or more providers
- Default or full routing tables
- Failover and redundancy tuning
Many smaller ISPs and hosting companies avoid BGP setups due to their complexity. Our engineers design, configure, and test multi-provider routing for maximum uptime and efficiency.
Who Can Benefit
Metanet’s IP and ASN services are ideal for:
- Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
- VPS and Web Hosting Companies
- SaaS and Cloud Service Providers
- Data Centers and Co-location Facilities
- Educational and Research Institutions
- Marketing and Infrastructure Companies
If you’re planning to grow your network, improve routing control, or establish independence from your upstream provider, Metanet can help — no matter which region your business operates in.
Your own IP Address allocation and AS number is an important milestone.
Obtaining your own IP addresses and AS number is a major milestone for any serious internet-based organization. While the process can seem complex, the benefits — independence, control, and scalability — are significant.
At Metanet, we make it simple. From ARIN, RIPE, APNIC, or AFRINIC registration to IPv4 and IPv6 justification, RPKI configuration, PeeringDB management, and geolocation accuracy, we handle every step.
Take control of your network’s future — contact Metanet today to learn how to secure your own IP space, get your ASN, and establish a stronger, more resilient network foundation.
