PI, legacy and ASN sponsorship
Hold independent internet resources without running your own LIR. We act as sponsoring LIR for PI space, legacy blocks and AS numbers, handling the registry side while the resources stay assigned to you.
Sponsorship pricing
A flat annual fee per resource and one setup fee. No percentage cuts, no volume tiers to negotiate.
PI / legacy IPv4 and IPv6
Sponsorship for provider independent and legacy IPv4 assignments, and for provider independent IPv6. Same annual fee either way.
AS number
Sponsorship for a 16-bit or 32-bit autonomous system number.
plus a one-off €149 setup fee per resource
Sponsorship or your own LIR
Becoming a Local Internet Registry yourself means RIPE's sign-up fee, its annual fee and the application process. Sponsorship gets you the same access without any of the three.
| Option | Setup fee | Annual fee | Time to set up | Time to get IPs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTM Networks sponsorship | €149 | From €99 | 24 hours | 24 hours |
| Your own RIPE LIR | €1,000 | €1,800 | Several weeks | Several weeks |
RIPE NCC figures are its published 2026 charging scheme: a €1,000 sign-up fee and €1,800 per LIR account per year, before per-resource charges. Setup times for your own LIR depend on RIPE's review and how complete your documentation is.
What sponsorship actually means
A sponsoring LIR is the formal link between your organisation and the RIPE NCC. The resources are registered to you, not to us. We hold the membership relationship so that you do not have to become a member yourself.
That distinction matters in practice. You keep full control of the space: announce it in BGP from wherever you like, through whichever upstream you choose, and manage reverse DNS as you see fit. Sponsorship is an administrative arrangement, not a lease, and you can move it to another LIR whenever you want.
What you avoid is the membership fee, the application process, and having to follow registry policy as it changes. Those become our problem rather than yours.
What sponsorship covers
Everything the registry relationship requires, handled as a matter of course rather than billed as extras.
Trusted by network operators across Europe
A few of the businesses we have handled transfers, leases and sponsorships for.
We successfully worked with RTM Networks to buy a legacy IPv4/24 and receive a PI IPv6 /48. RTM is our LIR Sponsor and and the whole process was really smooth. Everything worked out the easy way without any troubles in transfer of the IP Ranges. We continue to work with them as LIR sponsor and infrastructure for one of the backbones we are connected now. Special thanks Rick for helping us in setting up the mesh connected backbones and bird. After decades in the business a great experience with cool people. Thank you for doing a great job.
I have been an RTM customer for about a year now (starting with a sister company, Bakker IT), and I have never encountered any hiccups. Based on my experience, Rick is truly dedicated to providing an excellent customer experience, at honest prices with great customer support and reactivity. They are my LIR as well as my lease-to-own sponsor for IPv4 space. The addresses are super clean! They truly are looking for long-term customership, and everything is there for it. You can't go wrong with RTM Networks!
I've known Rick since 2014, and over the past 12 years he has helped me tremendously in many different ways. When it comes to RIPE, networking, and everything related to network infrastructure, Rick is someone I know I can always rely on. His knowledge and experience are excellent, but what I appreciate most is his reliability. In all those years, he has never once let me down. Rick is incredibly helpful, friendly, trustworthy, and always willing to think along or help when needed. After 12 years of working together, I can confidently say that Rick and RTM Networks are people you can truly depend on. Rick, thank you for everything you've done over the years. I genuinely appreciate our cooperation and hope we'll continue working together for many more years!
I've started doing business with them over a year ago. During that time I leased an IPv4 network with them. With the Help of Rick we completely transferred the Network segment without any issues. Additional, Rick is very helpful with everything regarding RIPE, Registrations, Transfers, Help with Routing etc.
Something else in mind?
If your situation does not fit the three options above (multiple resources, an unusual assignment history, a migration from another sponsor), tell us what you hold and we will put together an arrangement that fits. Custom setups are routine rather than an exception.
Ask about your situationSponsorship questions
What does a sponsoring LIR actually do?
Independent resources such as PI space, legacy blocks and AS numbers have to be tied to an LIR that maintains the registry relationship. We hold that relationship for you. The resource stays assigned to your organisation; we handle the agreement, the registry objects and the annual administration.
Do I lose control of my resources?
No. The assignment stays in your organisation's name. Sponsorship is an administrative relationship, not a transfer of ownership, and you can move it to another LIR whenever you choose.
Can you take over sponsorship from another LIR?
Yes, and it is a routine change. We coordinate with your current sponsor and the registry so the resource is never left unsponsored. Tell us what you hold and we will confirm what is involved.
What is the setup fee for?
The one-off €149 covers onboarding a resource: verifying the assignment, drawing up the sponsorship agreement, and creating the registry objects and RPKI configuration. After that it is the annual fee for that resource and nothing else.
Do you sponsor legacy space?
Yes. Legacy blocks are a significant part of what we sponsor. Legacy resources sit under different registry conditions than ordinary PA space, so tell us what you hold and we will walk through exactly what applies to your block.
What exactly is RIPE LIR sponsorship, and when do I need it?
In the RIPE region, provider independent resources cannot sit on their own; they have to be attached to a Local Internet Registry that maintains the registry relationship on the holder's behalf. That attachment is the sponsorship. You need one if you hold or are acquiring PI space, legacy blocks or an AS number and do not run your own LIR. It is common to arrange it at the same time as a purchase, so the transfer and the ongoing administration end up with one party rather than two.
Related Services
Other ways we help with IPv4 address space.
Buy IPv4
Purchase IPv4 address blocks outright
Lease IPv4
Rent IPv4 addresses on flexible terms
Blacklist Monitoring
RBL checks & abuse mailbox forwarding
Further reading
Legacy IPv4 Space: What It Is and Why Buyers Pay More For ItLegacy blocks were handed out before the RIRs existed, and they sit under different rules than ordinary allocated space. Here is what that means in practice for buyers and holders.
Need a sponsoring LIR?
Tell us which resources you hold or want to hold: PI space, legacy blocks or an AS number. We usually reply in 1-3 business hours.