I see new LIR applications are on the increase as we head towards full IPv4 depletion. I suspect many are companies with existing LIR status opening additional LIR accounts to obtain their /22.

I suppose this rate of new LIRs will slow dramatically in the new year when there are no more IPv4 addresses to be had and in two years time, many of these "secondary" LIRs will be shut and their resources transferred to the owners' primary LIR accounts.

One thing that occurs to me is that all of this could represent a significant slow down of funds into RIPE. I hope they are taking this into account in their financial planning, these "opportunist" LIRs bring in a lot in membership fees.

Aled