According to APNIC, operators in the Asia Pacific region are currently experiencing great demand for IP addresses and IPv4 exhaustion has activated a major change in regional delegation policy.

Under the Final /8 Policy, IPv6 is mandatory for building new Internet networks and services after this landmark event, and the remaining IPv4 space will now be 'rationed' to network operators.

A maximum delegation of a /22 (1,024 addresses) of IPv4 space will be allotted to all new and existing APNIC Members who meet the current allocation criteria set by the Regional Internet Registry.

"Considering the ongoing demand for IP addresses, this date effectively represents IPv4 exhaustion for many of the current operators in the Asia Pacific region," said APNIC director general Paul Wilson. "From this day onwards, IPv6 is mandatory for building new Internet networks and services."