Independent IP Strategy

Modernise Your
IP Address Strategy

Helping organisations take control of their IP address ecosystem — from internal governance and capacity optimisation to strategic IPv6 deployment and IPv4 market positioning.

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RIPE NCC Amazon Web Services Liberty Global ICANN ASO Address Council 15+ years global experience FinOps Certified
Why Independent Advisory

Your IP Strategy Should Serve
Your Interests First

Your IP strategy should reflect your organisation's priorities. KIPA provides independent, senior-level advisory across your entire IP ecosystem — from internal governance and operations to external market positioning

⚖️

Client-Aligned

Advisory fees never tied to transaction outcomes. Recommendations based on your strategic position, not deal flow.

🔍

Operator Perspective

Built on 15 years managing IP from inside major operators and the registry system — not from selling to them.

📊

FinOps Discipline

IP addresses treated as strategic financial assets. Governance, forecasting, and market positioning with the rigour your CFO expects.

Multi-€M

Saved via internal IPv4 recovery

Avoided external market purchases

Years

Of IPv4 runway recovered

Across multiple operating countries

1.5 FTE

Recovered via IPAM automation

40% faster site turnaround

Risk ↓

Depletion risk mitigated

Proactive forecasting vs emergency purchases
The Evolving Landscape

A Dual-Stack World Demands
a Dual-Track Strategy

IPv4 and IPv6 coexist and will continue to do so. Organisations that hold or need public IP capacity now face a complex matrix of technical, financial, and strategic decisions.

IPv4 Market Reality

1.5 Billion Addresses Transferred

The IPv4 ecosystem has seen 40% of the world's address space move since 2009, driven by M&A and market trading. Transfer prices have corrected from their 2021 peak, while leasing has surged as a flexible alternative. The RIPE NCC region has become the global hub for IP liquidity, attracting massive volumes from ARIN and APNIC for cloud infrastructure and leasing portfolios.

583M IPv4 not advertised Prices crashing down from $60 peak to $15 Leasing: $0.35–0.40/IP/mo
IPv6 Trajectory

Growing — But Still Incomplete

Nearly half of users can now access IPv6, and network readiness is approaching 50%. But content-side adoption lags far behind at around 30%. This matters: if your customers' content destinations don't yet support IPv6, the real-world service benefit of deployment is limited. Strategic, targeted deployment — not blanket migration — delivers measurable value.

~45% user capability ~30% content support Technical debt high
What We Do

Services

Three tiers of engagement designed to meet you where you are — from an initial strategic assessment to ongoing, embedded IP management.

Diagnose · Prioritise · Plan

IP Strategy Assessment

A comprehensive review of your IP ecosystem: governance, IPAM maturity, utilisation, forecasting, and market positioning. Prioritised roadmap with clear financial and operational impact.

Execute · Migrate · Integrate

Program Delivery

Hands-on execution of strategic IP initiatives: IPv4 recovery, targeted IPv6 deployments, post-M&A integration, IPAM automation, and RIR engagement management.

Ongoing Oversight

Fractional IP Management

Senior IP strategy leadership on a retained basis. Governance cadence, market intelligence, policy monitoring, and executive-level advisory — without a full-time hire.

Real-World Impact

Results That Compound

Each case reflects actual outcomes from IP ecosystem maturity programmes delivered at scale.

Multi-€M

Internal Recovery

IPv4 Capacity · Multi-country

Governance audits across residential, business, and infrastructure pools revealed cancelled projects, expired quarantines, and unnecessary stockpiling. Multiple /16 blocks recovered internally — avoiding millions in external market purchases at peak pricing.

Years

Runway Recovered

Forecasting · Risk mitigation

Granular, scenario-based analysis — splitting by service type, seasonal trends, and IPv6 projections — repeatedly identified capacity that aggregate forecasting missed. Depletion timelines extended indefinitely across multiple operating countries.

1.5 FTE

IPAM Automation

Efficiency · 300+ sites

CMTS upgrade required IP scope swaps across 300+ sites with five systems checked per site. Automated scope checker with rules-based logic recovered 1.5 FTE and cut turnaround by 40%.

Millions

IPv6 Migration

DS-Lite · Customer segmentation

Customer profiling separated power users (port forwarding, gaming) from standard users. DS-Lite deployed only for Profile B — freeing millions of IPv4 addresses with zero support spike.

About KIPA

Built on 15 Years at the Centre of the IP Ecosystem

James Kennedy

KIPA was founded by James Kennedy to bring FinOps-grade discipline to IP address management — treating address space as what it has become: a strategic financial asset.

With experience spanning Liberty Global's multi-country IP portfolio, Amazon Web Services globally, and the RIPE NCC (where James served as Chief Registry Officer overseeing the registry for 20,000+ members across 76 countries), KIPA brings a perspective most organisations cannot access in-house.

"James led and developed Liberty Global's IP address management discipline across its core network and 13 operating countries, creating a robust framework that brought stability, efficiency, and real impact. His expertise and vision turned challenges into sustainable results."
— Mansoor Sami Khan, former VP Network Operations & Director Network & Data Center Planning, Liberty Global

Ready to modernise your IP strategy?

A 30-minute consultation is enough to identify whether there is strategic value to unlock in your IP ecosystem.

Book a Consultation → jkennedy@kipa.global
Services

IP Strategy That Delivers
Measurable Value

Whether you need a one-off assessment or ongoing strategic oversight, KIPA brings the depth and independence to transform how your organisation manages IP address space.

Our Approach

Optimise Your IP Ecosystem

Every engagement is anchored in a four-pillar framework developed through real-world delivery across operators, hyperscalers, and the registry system.

01

Governance & Accountability

Accountability structures, policies, processes, cross-functional engagement and cadence.

02

IPAM Tooling & Visibility

Single source of truth, data tagging and naming standards, appropriate granularity.

03

Analytics & Forecasting

Accurate, reliable, intelligent measurements, scenario-based projections, and reporting.

04

Strategic Planning & Capability

Capacity optimisation, targeted IPv4-IPv6 migrations, automation, and market positioning.

01

IP Strategy Assessment

Best for: Organisations seeking clarity

A structured, top-to-bottom review of your IP ecosystem. We assess governance structures, IPAM tooling and data quality, utilisation efficiency, forecasting maturity, and external market positioning. You receive a prioritised roadmap — not a generic report, but a set of actions ranked by financial and operational impact.

What you receive

  • IP ecosystem maturity assessment (governance, visibility, analytics, capability)
  • Utilisation and efficiency analysis across all address families
  • IPv4 holding valuation and market positioning review
  • IPv6 deployment readiness assessment
  • Prioritised action roadmap with business case per initiative
  • Executive summary for leadership alignment

Typical engagement

4–6 weeks · Remote with on-site option

The methodology draws on direct experience managing IP portfolios valued at over €1.25B across 13 operating countries at Liberty Global, and globally at AWS.
02

Program Delivery

Best for: Organisations ready to execute

Hands-on delivery of strategic IP initiatives. This is where assessment findings become operational reality — from internal IPv4 recovery campaigns and targeted IPv6 deployments to IPAM integration projects and post-M&A address consolidation.

What you receive

  • IPv4 internal recovery and recycling campaigns
  • Targeted IPv6 deployment planning and execution
  • IPAM tooling integration and automation
  • Post-M&A IP consolidation and registry alignment
  • Scenario-based capacity forecasting implementation
  • Cross-functional governance structure design

Typical engagement

3–6 months · Embedded or advisory model

Program experience spans IPv6 batch migrations serving millions of subscribers, post-M&A IP integrations across multiple countries, and scope automation across 300+ network sites — delivering measurable FTE recovery and multi-million euro savings.
03

Fractional IP Management

Best for: Ongoing strategic oversight

Senior IP strategy leadership on a retained basis — the expertise of a Chief IP Strategist without the full-time headcount. Governance cadence, market intelligence, policy monitoring, transfer and leasing advisory, and executive reporting embedded into your operating rhythm.

What you receive

  • Monthly governance reviews and executive reporting
  • IPv4 market monitoring and transaction advisory
  • RIR policy tracking and compliance oversight
  • IPv6 deployment progress and roadmap management
  • Vendor and broker relationship management
  • Ongoing capacity forecasting and strategic planning

Typical engagement

12-month retainer · 2–4 days/month

Governance relationships and policy insight that most organisations cannot access in-house.
Also Available

Specialist Advisory

Discrete engagements for specific challenges:

RIR Policy Compliance & Audit Preparation
IPv4 Transfer & Leasing Strategy
M&A IP Due Diligence
IP Asset Valuation
Blacklist & Reputation Repair
RPKI Implementation
Policy Impact Analysis
IPv6 Business Case Development
James Kennedy presenting at RIPE 87
About

James Kennedy

15 years at the centre of the global IP address ecosystem — from operating multi-country networks to head of the RIPE Registry.

KIPA exists because IP address management has evolved far beyond a technical and operational function. Address space — both IPv4 and IPv6 — is now a strategic asset with financial value, market dynamics, and governance implications that most organisations are not equipped to navigate.

I founded KIPA to bring the operational depth and strategic perspective I developed over fifteen years into an independent advisory practice. The goal is simple: help organisations treat their IP ecosystem with the rigour it now demands.

Operational Experience

RIPE NCC

Chief Registry Officer

Led the Internet Number Registry — the authoritative system of record for IP address allocations, assignments, and transfers across 76 countries and 20,000+ members. Oversaw registry operations, policy implementation, transfer processing, and compliance.

Amazon Web Services

Tech Business Developer, IP Strategy

Executed global IPAM operations and acquisition analysis for AWS — optimising internal distribution and security collaboration across a hyperscale inventory of 132M+ public IPv4 addresses and IPv6.

Liberty Global

Senior Manager, IP Address Strategy

Built and led the IP address strategy function across Liberty Global's operating companies — managing a portfolio valued at over €1.25B across 13 countries including Virgin Media, Ziggo, Telenet, and UPC operations. Designed the governance framework, forecasting methodology, and IPv6 migration approach that delivered multi-million euro savings.

RIPE NCC

IP Resource Analyst

Where it started. Hands-on work with IP resource allocation, policy implementation, and member support — building the technical foundation that would inform my future roles.

Industry Leadership

Beyond operational roles, I have been actively involved in shaping IP address policy and governance at the global level. I served as Co-Chair of the RIPE Address Policy Working Group (2021–2023), was twice elected to the ICANN ASO Address Council representing the RIPE region, and co-authored RIPE-767 — a policy document establishing data governance principles for the registry system.

Why KIPA

Most organisations manage IP addresses reactively — by the time they're engaging brokers or panicking about IPv4 depletion, the optimal strategic window has already closed. KIPA brings FinOps-grade discipline to IP management: treating address space as a portfolio of strategic assets requiring governance, visibility, intelligent forecasting, and proactive market positioning.

Credentials

Speaking & Publications

"Creating a robust framework and implementing best practices that brought stability, efficiency, and real impact in managing and mitigating the depleting IPv4 address space. A catalyst in accelerating IPv6 deployments and migrations, enabling Liberty to meet its short- and long-term objectives on IP address management strategy."
— Mansoor Sami Khan, former VP Network Operations & Director Network & Data Center Planning, Liberty Global
Insights

Market Intelligence &
Analysis

Original research, data and trend analysis, and strategic thinking from the frontline of the global IP ecosystem.

Featured
MENOG 25 · Dubai · November 2025

Modernise Your IP Address Strategy for 2025 and Beyond

A deep dive into the changing shape of the Internet's address layer. Analysis covers the trajectory of 1.5 billion addresses moving through transfers and consolidation, alongside practical frameworks for internal governance and IPv6 risk management.

Coming Soon
Research

IPv4 Transfer Market: A Global Analysis

Deep-dive into transfer volumes, pricing dynamics, and inter-RIR flows across ARIN, RIPE, APNIC, LACNIC, and AFRINIC.

From the Data

Global Ecosystem Velocity

Tracking the massive movement of IP assets across the landscape, driven by market trading, cloud infrastructure moves, and M&A consolidation.

Total IPv4 Transfer Volume by Recipient RIR
Recipient RIR, 2014–2025 · Source: RIR transfer logs, KIPA analysis
Inter-RIR Transfer Recipients from 2009 to Nov-2025
Total addresses received via inter-RIR transfers · Source: RIR transfer logs, KIPA analysis
IPv4 Transfer Pricing ($/IP)
Median transfer price by region · Source: Hilco IPv4.Global, KIPA analysis
3,687M
Total allocated IPv4
APNIC, Nov 2025
1.5B
Transferred since 2009
Cumulative volume
583M
Allocated, not advertised
16% of space
8M+
On commercial lease
Growing rapidly
91M
Inter-RIR to RIPE
Dominant destination
~46%
Users IPv6 capable
Internet Society, 2026
~30%
Websites IPv6
Content gap wide
<$15
Wholesale IPv4 price
Crashed from $55 peak
Looking Ahead

Three Possible Futures for IP

The 2026–2035 landscape will be shaped by which combination of these trajectories plays out. Your strategy needs to be ready for all of them.

Scenario A

IPv6 Overdrive

Driven by hyperscalers, AI infrastructure demand, mobile/IoT growth, and emerging IPv6-only regulations. Accelerates the transition and reshapes demand dynamics.

Scenario B

Dual Stack Continuation

IPv6 growth continues steadily while IPv4 recycling and the active transfer/leasing market persist. The practical middle path most organisations are on today.

Scenario C

IPv4 Renaissance

With prices hitting historic lows (<$15), acquiring IPv4 capacity is now significantly cheaper than the technical debt of a forced IPv6 migration. The financial case for 'IPv4 Permanence' has never been stronger.

Contact

Let's Talk

A 30-minute consultation is enough to identify whether there is strategic value to unlock in your IP ecosystem.

Book a Consultation

The initial conversation is straightforward: you share where you are, I share what I see. If there's a fit, we scope an engagement. If not, you still walk away with a clearer picture of your options.

Schedule via Calendly →

Direct Contact

✉ jkennedy@kipa.global
🌐www.kipa.global
inLinkedIn Profile
📍Amsterdam, Netherlands
KvK Registration

Kennedy IP Addressing (KIPA) · KvK 99464705