They have three potential pathways for unlocking cash from these hidden assets:
1. Sell: The first and most straightforward option is to sell the unused IPv4 addresses outright, transferring ownership to the new buyer and unlocking a large lump sum payment immediately. This bonus revenue can be deployed immediately to fund scholarships, salaries, or new technology initiatives.
The huge blocks allocated to universities and even small colleges are in great demand and can attract premium prices. For example, while a modest /17 block with around 32,000 IPv4 addresses can attract around $38 per address, a /16 block with approximately twice as many addresses typically sells for $53 per address. This could mean a potential $1.2-3.5 million of found revenue for the university per block. Selling remains a good option even for those institutions unsure of their future needs – as the current price premiums will more than cover any future need to purchase small blocks.
2. Lease: Universities can also lease IPv4 blocks to enjoy an ongoing, passive income stream from these otherwise unused assets. Leasing offers flexibility as the lease period can span any length of time from six months to five years, though demand has kept rents low.
This is an attractive route for institutions whose long-term needs are uncertain–for example, educational institutions that are growing rapidly, planning to absorb another institution, or are undertaking measures to massively expand their student numbers, perhaps through extensive new online programs.
While there’s little risk involved (the institutions retain ownership of their addresses and control the length of the lease), this approach can be more complex to manage as leases are paid monthly, and could be used to violate other businesses’ terms of service. Consequently, educational institutions pursuing a leased option generally rely on a trusted broker to handle ongoing transactions and monitor usage reports.
3. Use collateral for loans or investments: Considering the potential value of unused IPv4 addresses, universities may use these assets as collateral to back a loan or investment. This option also allows them to retain ownership of the addresses. Pursuing this approach does require finding a lender familiar with intangible assets who is able to provide an appropriate valuation. In most cases, the IPv4 addresses form part of a portfolio of assets, including bonds or annuities. And, as with any collateral, the addresses could be seized in the case of a default.
How to prepare IP blocks for monetization
One challenge faced by most educational institutions with large, unused IPv4 address blocks is that portions of the addresses are likely to have acquired reputation issues. Being unused, they are attractive targets for being hijacked and used for spam, or are simply susceptible to malicious actors infecting students’ computers—if it isn’t the students themselves causing mischief. If this is the case, they can still be sold, however, colleges should work with a qualified facilitator to first rehabilitate/clean the blocks.
Another reason to find a competent broker for the sale, lease, or transfer of IPv4 addresses is the fact that educational institutions are partially using their IPv4 blocks. The easiest solution is to acquire a smaller block and renumber any network devices using addresses from the large block. This can be a significant undertaking, but a good broker will be able to help.
Work with a trusted expert to unlock the value of hidden assets
In the face of financial pressure, educational institutions are looking for new ways to secure funding to support growth initiatives. Thanks to being over-served with IPv4 addresses decades ago, many are sitting on valuable unused assets that can be monetized in different ways, depending on their future plans and appetite for risk. By working with the right facilitator, they can optimize their holdings for sale, identify the best approach, and of course, secure the best possible price.
Related: IT leaders are critical for a positive student experience
Lee Howard is a senior vice president at IPv4.Global. A thought leader in Internet Protocols, Lee Howard has 30 years of experience in networking. He has served on the Internet Architecture Board (IAB), the Board of Trustees of the American Registry of Internet Numbers (ARIN), and as a working-group co-chair of IPv6 Renumbering and IPv6 Operations working groups at the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).
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