Where Does Your IP Come From?

Every time you turn on your phone or laptop and connect to the internet, you are assigned a "Public IP." This address is your passport to the global network. But your ISP doesn't just pick a random number; there is a highly organized system involving global registries and local servers.

1. The Hierarchy of IP Ownership

IP addresses are not owned by ISPs in the traditional sense; they are allocated.

• IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority): The top-level organization that manages global IP blocks.
• RIRs (Regional Internet Registries): Five organizations (like ARIN in North America or RIPE in Europe) that distribute blocks to specific regions.
• ISPs: Buy or lease large blocks (e.g., a "Class B" block) from their local RIR to give to their customers.

2. DHCP: The Automated Receptionist

Most home connections use Dynamic IP Addresses. This is managed by a DHCP Server at the ISP's data center.

When your modem boots up, it sends a "Discovery" packet. The DHCP server looks at its available "Pool," picks an unused address, and sends it to you with a Lease Time (e.g., 24 hours).

3. Static IPs: The Reserved Parking Spot

Businesses or power users often pay extra for a Static IP. In this case, the ISP markers a specific address in their database as "Reserved" for your specific MAC address or account ID. It never changes, which is vital for hosting servers or connecting to secure office networks.

4. CGNAT (Carrier-Grade NAT)

Because the world has run out of IPv4 addresses, many mobile and fiber ISPs now use CGNAT. Instead of giving you a unique public IP, they give you a private IP (shared with hundreds of other people) and "translate" it at their data center.

If your Public IP on our site shows a different location every time you refresh, you might be behind a CGNAT.