FAQ APIDT Launch

What is APIDT?

APIDT is the Asia Pacific Internet Development Trust, a joint initiative of WIDE Project and APNIC; and was established in 2020 to support Internet development in the Asia Pacific region.

What will APIDT do?

The Asia Pacific Internet Development Trust (APIDT) will fund Internet development initiatives in the Asia Pacific region, through the APNIC Foundation and other partnerships.

It will support technical skills development and capacity building, improve critical Internet infrastructure, encourage research and development, and increase the community’s capability to build an open, global, stable and secure Internet.

How will APIDT be funded?

On 25 March 2020, APIDT received a transfer of a range of historical IPv4 address space, from WIDE Project, Japan, on two conditions: that it be offered for sale on the IPv4 address market, and that the proceeds be used in support of Internet development in the Asia Pacific region.

The intended sale of the transferred address space will provide the initial capital funding for APIDT. The proceeds of the fund will support the aims of the Trust.

How were these decisions made?

The decision to transfer and sell the historical resources was made entirely by WIDE, the holder of the historical address space. APNIC was invited to work together with WIDE, because of APNIC’s successful track record of supporting Internet development in the region.

How is APIDT structured?

APIDT has a corporate Trustee*, incorporated in Australia by APNIC and WIDE Project, serving jointly as guardians of the Trust. All details including the Deed of Trust are available on the APIDT website.

*APIDTT Pty Ltd (Australian Company Number 638 389 072).

Who controls APIDT?

APIDT is controlled by its corporate Trustee, APIDTT Pty Ltd, which is legally bound to administer APIDT in accordance with its Deed of Trust. APIDTT Pty Ltd has onerous legal obligations and fiduciary duties to always act in good faith and honesty, and with due care, skill and diligence, in the best interests of the beneficiaries under the Trust.

APIDTT is owned by APNIC and WIDE Project, who also serve as guardians of the Trust.

What IP addresses were transferred to the Trust?

The address space transferred to APIDT is the remaining historical IPv4 space within 43/8, a “Class A” block which was assigned by the IANA (the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority) to the WIDE Project in 1991. The transfer was performed under the APNIC Historical Resource Transfer Policy.

The transferred space comprises three historical address blocks: 43/9, 43.128/10 and 43.192/11, equivalent to seven-eighths of the original 43/8 block, or a total of 14,680,064 IPv4 addresses.

What is Historical IPv4 space?

Historical addresses are those which were assigned by the IANA prior to the existence of APNIC and other Regional Internet address Registries (RIRs).

Under the APNIC policy framework, historical addresses are not subject to the regular APNIC management policies, but may be freely transferred under the Historical Resource Transfer policy. In this process they also become “current” (no longer historical) resources, and therefore subject to APNIC policies.

Why were the addresses not returned to the APNIC unallocated pool?

The address space held by WIDE Project was historical space, and was not made available for return to the APNIC unallocated address pool under any circumstances. The space was made available ONLY on the conditions described above (in Q3), and these conditions were accepted after due consideration by the APNIC Executive Council.

How will the addresses be sold?

The APIDT Trustee has engaged KPMG and Maddocks Lawyers to help determine and manage a fair, transparent, efficient and accountable process for the sale, in line with the terms of the transfer and the objectives of the Trust, and also with APNIC IPv4 address management policies.

The details of the process are expected to be announced in the near future, within four weeks of the announcement on 25 March 2020.

Why is APNIC now involved in transfer and sale of IPv4 address space?

The APNIC EC agreed that the opportunity offered by WIDE Project, including the transfer and sale of these addresses, was entirely consistent with APNIC policies, and offered an important opportunity to strengthen APNIC’s mission in support of Internet development.

Did this decision involve consultation with APNIC Members?

The APNIC EC accepted the terms of this agreement with WIDE on behalf of APNIC Members, confident that they are consistent with the EC’s duties and all APNIC policies.

How will the proceeds be used by APIDT?

Once the sale has been completed, the proceeds received by the Trust will be placed in an investment fund to produce a continuous long term financial return.  It is intended that this funding stream will support Internet development activities through the APNIC Foundation and other channels.

How will APNIC Members benefit from APIDT?

APIDT will support technical skills development and capacity building, improve critical Internet infrastructure, encourage research and development, and increase the community’s capability to build an open, global, stable and secure Internet.

These activities will provide continuing benefits to APNIC Members and the wider community.

Will APNIC continue to directly fund Internet development?

APNIC has consistently invested a portion of Member funds in Internet development activities, to approximately 20% of the APNIC budget, and it has agreed to support the APNIC Foundation as an integral part of APNIC’s mission.

APIDT does not exist to relieve APNIC of these responsibilities, but to contribute additionally to Internet development in the region. 

However it is expected that a portion of the APNIC Foundation’s administrative costs will be covered by APIDT funding from 2021, with a positive impact on the APNIC budget.

What APIDT accountability measures will be in place?

APIDT will maintain transparency in its governance, financial and operational affairs, including producing annual reports and annual financial audits.