--- title: "Teleports and number resource hierarchy" subject: "Internet and Intranet" chapter: 1 key: "semester_8/internet_and_intranet:teleports-number-resources-hierarchy" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/internet_and_intranet/teleports-number-resources-hierarchy site: BCT Engineering --- # Teleports and number resource hierarchy Internet and Intranet · Chapter 1: Introduction - Asked in: 2072 Magh, 2+8 marks - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/internet_and_intranet/teleports-number-resources-hierarchy - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/internet_and_intranet/chapter-1 ## Question What are teleports? Explain the hierarchical structure for management of internet number resources. ## Short answer A teleport is a satellite earth-station complex providing gateway between satellites and terrestrial networks, enabling internet where fibre is unavailable. Number resources are managed hierarchically: IANA allocates to RIRs, RIRs to NIRs/LIRs, and LIRs assign to end users, ensuring unique addresses and route aggregation. ## Answer #### Teleports A **teleport** is a satellite earth-station complex that acts as a gateway between satellites and terrestrial networks. It has large dish antennas, uplink/downlink equipment, modems, and fibre links to the ground network. A teleport sends and receives data, voice and TV signals to and from communication satellites. Role in the Internet: where fibre is unavailable (remote hills, islands, ships, aircraft), an ISP can use a satellite link through a teleport (VSAT) to connect to the Internet backbone. Teleports also serve as a backup to terrestrial and submarine cable links, and support TV broadcasting and international telephony. #### Hierarchy for management of Internet number resources Number resources are IP addresses and Autonomous System Numbers (ASNs). They are distributed top-down so that each is globally unique. ```text IANA (global pool, operated under ICANN) | +-----+-----+-----+------+ AFRINIC APNIC ARIN LACNIC RIPE NCC (5 RIRs) | NIRs (national, optional) | LIRs (ISPs, large orgs) | End users ``` - **IANA** allocates large blocks (IPv4 /8, IPv6 /12) and ASN ranges to RIRs under global policies. - **RIRs** serve one world region each. They allocate to NIRs and LIRs, maintain the WHOIS database and reverse DNS delegation, and run the policy development process. Nepal is served by **APNIC**. - **NIRs** (e.g. JPNIC, CNNIC, IRINN) serve ISPs inside one country. Nepal has none. - **LIRs** are ISPs that get blocks (e.g. IPv6 /32) and assign smaller blocks to customers (e.g. /48 or /56). - **End users** use the assigned addresses, and may further subnet them internally. Advantages: unique addresses, conservation of the limited IPv4 space through need-based policy, and aggregation of routes, which keeps backbone routing tables small. #### Why the hierarchy matters (example) Suppose a Nepali ISP needs addresses. It applies to APNIC (its RIR) and, after justifying its need, receives for example `103.x.x.0/22` and an AS number. The ISP (acting as an LIR) then assigns a `/29` to a small company and a `/24` to a university. Because all customers lie inside the ISP's block, the rest of the world needs only one route entry (the /22) to reach all of them. Registration in the APNIC WHOIS database shows who holds each block, which helps in tracing abuse and solving routing problems. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. What is a teleport? A. A router that performs NAT B. A satellite earth-station complex acting as a gateway between satellites and terrestrial networks C. An IXP that uses submarine cables D. A DNS root server site Answer: B. A teleport has large dishes, uplink/downlink equipment and fibre links to the ground network, connecting satellites to terrestrial networks. (Key point: Teleport definition) 2. When would an ISP use a teleport (VSAT) link? A. When it needs more IPv4 addresses B. To replace BGP routing C. Only to translate domain names D. Where fibre is unavailable (remote hills, islands, ships) or as backup to terrestrial and submarine links Answer: D. Satellite links via a teleport reach places without fibre and also act as backup. (Key point: Role of teleport in Internet access) 3. What does IANA allocate to the RIRs? A. Individual /32 host addresses to customers B. Large blocks (IPv4 /8, IPv6 /12) and ASN ranges C. Only domain names D. Blocks of /48 for each site Answer: B. IANA hands large blocks and ASN ranges to the RIRs under global policy; smaller blocks are assigned further down. (Key point: IANA allocation sizes) 4. Which is an advantage of the hierarchical management of number resources? A. Every ISP can pick any address freely B. Routes cannot be aggregated C. Addresses are unique, scarce IPv4 is conserved by need-based policy, and routing tables stay small through aggregation D. It removes the need for a WHOIS database Answer: C. Uniqueness, conservation and aggregation are the stated advantages; WHOIS records who holds each block. (Key point: Advantages of hierarchy) ## Related in Internet and Intranet - [Backbone and number resource management hierarchy](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finternet_and_intranet%3Abackbone-number-resources-hierarchy) — Internet and Intranet, chapter 1 - [Intranet, Internet, Extranet comparison and resources](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finternet_and_intranet%3Aintranet-internet-extranet-compare) — Internet and Intranet, chapter 1 - [Redundant hierarchical network design for bank](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finternet_and_intranet%3Aredundant-network-bank-four-departments) — Internet and Intranet, chapter 5 ## Related in other subjects - [Natural resource management approaches and sustainability](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fenergy_resources%3Aenvironment-development-society-resource-management) — Energy Resources, chapter 8 - [Internet structure: repeater, bridge, router, gateway](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Ftelecommunications%3Ainternet-structure-devices) — Telecommunications, chapter 8