[ppml] The WIANA registry

[Trevor Paquette]

The way I see this whole issue is the following:

1) WIANA has unilaterally decided that they will be using the 1/8 IP supernet
2) WIANA has stated that this network is 'a different physical medium to the classic Internet'
3) WIANA has stated that their network 'does not map directly into Internet address space, external connections are translated and will perhaps eventually slot into an ipv6 subnet'

Given (1), (2) and (3) above.. This is like running a private network. No problem so far.

However, (here is the kicker)..

How long do you think it will be before they 'require' direct Internet connectivity due to the problems imposed by Network Address Translation?? I'm talking end-user demand that they be able to connect via VPN to corporate networks, email, IM, etc.. Most users don't care nor do they want to learn about the nuances of NAT.. they just want their application to work. Point, click, connect.

Given the above, I expect WIANA to say at some point in the future "Look, we are already using this space and no-one else is; so just let us use it." All without going through the mutually agreed upon processes, procedures and justifications that everyone else must go through.

This, I believe, is the real problem with this 'Registry'..