ASN General Information: What ASN AS4xxxx is, how much it costs, what it’s worth, and how to pay for it
Network operators, cloud service providers, and digital businesses that are growing increasingly need their own Autonomous System Number (ASN). An ASN, usually written as AS4xxxx, allows a business to set its own routing rules, handle BGP announcements, and operate independently across multiple networks. Companies can figure out if getting an ASN is the right strategic choice by learning how they work, how much they cost, and how much they will be worth in the long run.
What is an ASN, and why is it important?
A network or organization that controls its own routing is given an Autonomous System Number (ASN), which is a unique number. A business can use Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), the Internet’s global routing system, to share routing information with an ASN.
For instance, an ASN in the AS4xxxx range, such as AS40000 or AS41012, points to a specific network entity. There are many benefits to having your own ASN:
- You don’t have to use just one provider for your network.
- Multi-homing capability means that you can connect to more than one ISP for backup.
- You have full control over routing policies, which means you decide how and where your traffic goes.
- Better uptime and resilience: Your network stays up even when one carrier goes down.
Because of these benefits, companies that run infrastructure, host services, run VPN networks, or handle a lot of online traffic often choose to have their own ASN instead of just relying on routing from their provider.
There are two types of ASNs: public and private.
When talking about ASNs, businesses need to know the differences:
Public ASN
A public ASN can be announced on the internet to everyone, which means it can be used for BGP routing outside of the network. Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) give these out, such as:
- ARIN
- RIPE NCC
- APNIC
- LACNIC
- AFRINIC
ISPs, data centers, cloud companies, and businesses that are growing all use public ASNs.
Private ASN
You can’t see private ASNs on the public internet; they are only used inside a network. They are great for routing inside a network or connecting with upstream providers that remove private ASNs during announcements.
Getting to Know ASN Pricing and Value
The price of getting an ASN changes based on the Regional Internet Registry (RIR), the type of membership you need, and whether you get it directly or through a consultant.
Common Price Ranges for ASNs
- ARIN: $550 to $650 to sign up for the first time, plus yearly renewal fees.
- RIPE NCC: Membership usually comes with an ASN, and the fees are about €1,400 per year.
- APNIC: Prices depend on the size of the membership group.
- LACNIC and AFRINIC: Fees depend on the level of membership and the area.
Some companies hire brokers or consultants to help them with the application process, in addition to paying RIR fees. This is especially true if they don’t have any technical staff who know how to use BGP or RPKI. The cost of consulting services usually falls between $200 and $800, depending on how much work is involved.
What Makes an ASN Worthwhile?
The operational benefits, not the resale value, are what make an ASN valuable:
- Control over traffic management
- The ability to multihome without having to follow ISP rules
- More stable for apps that are critical to the mission
- Being a part of a professional network and being real
- Easier to connect with rented IPv4 or IPv6 blocks
For businesses that deal with a lot of data or run distributed applications, the operational value is much higher than the cost.
About IPv4Hub.net
IPv4Hub.net is a great resource for businesses that rent IPv4 space or want to run their own ASN. It makes the whole process easier. IPv4 Hub connects businesses with clean IPv4 ranges that are ready to be routed. It also provides documentation for BGP configuration and checks that all IP blocks are ready for RPKI and ROA use. The platform acts as a trusted broker, providing services for leasing, buying, and waiting lists, and making sure that customers get IP space that has a good reputation and works with all devices around the world. IPv4Hub.net makes it quick, safe, and easy to get and use high-quality IPv4 resources, whether you’re building a new network or expanding your current one. Ways to Pay for ASN Registration
Depending on the RIR and whether you’re working with a broker or consultant, there are different ways to pay.
Commonly Accepted Ways to Pay
- Credit or debit card
- Transfer of funds by bank or ACH
- Transfer by Wire
- PayPal (for some consultants)
- Billing for businesses (for long-term contracts)
Bank transfers or cards linked to registered businesses are the main ways that RIPE, APNIC, and ARIN accept payments. Consultants and brokers who help with ASN may offer more flexible ways to pay, especially for clients from other countries.
Is an ASN the right choice for your business?
It makes sense to get an ASN if:
- Your business gets services from more than one upstream provider.
- You have infrastructure that needs to be up all the time.
- You need to tell people about your leased or owned IPv4 ranges.
- You want to have more say over redundancy and routing.
- You run a CDN, ISP, VPN, SaaS, or hosting platform.
A public ASN might not be needed for smaller businesses, but for businesses that want to grow, it’s a good investment in stability and long-term growth.
Businesses have more control over their internet infrastructure when they know how an ASN works and how AS4xxxx identifiers fit into global routing. Companies that need stable network performance are getting ASNs more and more often. This is because they have clear pricing, useful operational benefits, and flexible payment options. Having your own ASN is a great way to build a strong, independent, and professionally managed network. When you add in reliable IPv4 resources from sites like IPv4Hub.net, it’s even better.