The Internet’s Routing System — Explained Simply
Every time you visit a website, send an email, or stream a video, your data travels across dozens of networks to reach its destination. But how does the internet know which path to take? The answer is BGP — Border Gateway Protocol.
BGP is the routing protocol that makes the internet work. It’s how networks communicate with each other, sharing information about which IP addresses they can reach. Think of it as the internet’s GPS system — without it, data wouldn’t know where to go.
What is an ASN?
An ASN (Autonomous System Number) is a unique identifier assigned to a network that participates in BGP routing. Every major company, ISP, and hosting provider has one. For example, No-Ack Hosting operates under AS30893.
Having your own ASN means your organization is recognized as an independent network on the internet. You’re no longer just a customer of someone else’s network — you are a network.
Why Would Your Business Need Its Own ASN?
1. Multi-homing: Never Depend on a Single Provider
With your own ASN and IP space, you can connect to multiple upstream providers simultaneously. If one provider goes down, your traffic automatically routes through another. This is called multi-homing, and it’s the gold standard for network reliability.
2. IP Address Portability
When you use your provider’s IP addresses, you’re locked in. If you switch providers, your IPs change — meaning DNS updates, potential downtime, and disrupted services. With your own IP space under your own ASN, your addresses follow you wherever you go.
3. Traffic Engineering
BGP gives you granular control over how your traffic flows. You can optimize routing for latency, cost, or redundancy. For businesses running latency-sensitive applications, this level of control is invaluable.
4. Professional Credibility
Having your own ASN signals that your organization takes its network infrastructure seriously. For hosting providers, SaaS companies, and enterprises, it’s a mark of technical maturity.
How to Get Your Own ASN
In Europe, ASNs are allocated by RIPE NCC through Local Internet Registries (LIRs). The process involves:
- Demonstrating a need for multi-homing (connecting to at least two upstream providers)
- Submitting an application through a sponsoring LIR
- Having the necessary technical infrastructure in place
This is where No-Ack Hosting comes in.
No-Ack LIR Services
As a RIPE NCC member and Local Internet Registry, we provide comprehensive LIR services to help your business become independent on the internet:
- ASN Registration — 1,500 SEK/year: We handle the entire RIPE application process. No setup fees.
- IPv6 /48 Allocation — 1,000 SEK/year: Get your own IPv6 block with all necessary RIPE objects created.
- LIR Sponsoring — 2,000 SEK/year: Already have PI or LEGACY IP resources? We’ll be your sponsoring LIR.
- BGP Session Setup — 500 SEK (one-time): We configure a reliable BGP session for your network.
What Happens If You Don’t Have a Sponsor?
If you hold PI (Provider Independent) or LEGACY IP resources without a valid LIR sponsoring agreement, RIPE requires those resources to be returned. Don’t risk losing your IP addresses — secure a sponsor today.
Get Started
Whether you’re planning to go multi-homed, need your own IP space, or require a sponsoring LIR for existing resources, we’re here to help.
Ready to take control of your network? Contact us to discuss your LIR needs, or explore our LIR Services page for details.