Cogent Communications and the High Cost of IPv4 Leases: Why Companies Are Looking for Cheaper Options

Even though there is a push for IPv6, the internet still relies heavily on IPv4 addresses. This has made the market for leasing these scarce resources more competitive and expensive. Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CCOI) is one of the biggest owners of IPv4 addresses, with about 38 million in stock. They have taken advantage of this lack of availability by steadily raising their leasing rates and making more money.

Cogent’s IPv4 leasing business has grown a lot in the last few years. For example, in the second quarter of 2025, the company said that the average revenue per leased IPv4 address was $0.39 per month. This was a 22% increase from the base rate at the start of the previous year. This helped the company make more money each quarter, with IPv4 leasing reaching $17.5 million in Q3 2025, a 14.1% increase from the previous quarter and a 55.5% increase from the same quarter last year. Earlier quarters showed similar trends: a 14.8% increase from Q1 2025 to Q2 2025 and steady double-digit gains throughout 2024 and into 2025.

These rises are a result of changes in the market as a whole. Cloud providers, hosting companies, and businesses that need old addresses for compatibility and scaling have all been looking for IPv4 addresses because they are running out. Cogent has made more money from its holdings by securitizing them and issuing hundreds of millions of notes backed by lease revenue. This shows that the company is confident in its ability to keep prices high (and even higher). People who watch the industry say that while the prices for outright purchases of large blocks have gone down a little, leasing rates have gone up, usually staying between $0.38 and $0.45 per IP per month around the world, with higher prices in areas where demand is high.

For a lot of businesses, these rising costs from big companies like Cogent mean that their operational costs go up, especially for long-term needs. Many people still find it hard and expensive to switch to IPv6, so leasing is the best way to bridge the gap, but it can be hard on the budget.

Long-Term IPv4 Leases Through IPv4Hub: The Affordable Alternative
In this situation, specialized IPv4 marketplaces like IPv4Hub.net are a great option because they offer clean, documented IPv4 blocks at clear, competitive rates—often cheaper than going directly to big holders like Cogent.

IPv4Hub’s main focus is on flexible leasing options for blocks that are /24 or larger, like /14. They offer full support, quick approval, and no hidden fees. IPv4Hub gets its leases from a wide range of holders and focuses on efficiency. This means that businesses can lock in predictable costs even when the market is volatile. For instance, exclusive deals like /19 blocks have been available for $4,500 per month, which means that per-IP pricing is good for large amounts.

Some of the main benefits of leasing through IPv4Hub are:

  • Lower per-IP rates than premium providers, with options for hosting, VPNs, cloud expansion, and more. This saves you money.
  • Flexibility and Scalability: Change the size of blocks as needed, with terms that can handle seasonal or project-based needs.
  • Reliability: Verified addresses with a clean reputation and support for seamless transfer and deployment.
  • Long-Term Stability: Make sure you have multi-year contracts to protect yourself from more price increases in the market as a whole.
  • IPv4 demand isn’t going down anytime soon, thanks to slow global IPv6 adoption and the ongoing growth of digital technology. Choosing a dedicated broker like IPv4Hub makes sure you get high-quality addresses without paying too much.

Are you ready to get long-term, low-cost IPv4 leases for your business? Call us today at IPv4Hub.net to talk about what you need and get a quote that fits your needs. We can help you navigate the market quickly and easily. Get in touch with us now for a free quote.