# IP transit, peering and your own IP space

A network that wants to control its own routing needs three things. It needs a way to reach the whole internet, a way to reach the big destinations efficiently, and address space of its own. This is the difference between transit and peering, and where they fit.

30 August 2026

[ISP & Network Operators](https://netavo.com/insights)

## Transit and peering are not the same thing

IP transit is a service you buy from an upstream provider: they carry your traffic to and from the entire internet, and you pay for the capacity. It gives you universal reach through one relationship.

Peering is a direct exchange of traffic with another network, usually at an internet exchange such as LINX, often with no per-megabit charge. You do not reach the whole internet through a peer, only that network and what it serves, so peering complements transit rather than replacing it. Most operators run both: transit for universal reach and resilience, peering to carry traffic to the largest destinations directly and keep transit costs down.

## Your own ASN and address space

To multihome, to run BGP and to keep your routing independent of any single supplier, you need an Autonomous System Number and your own IP space, both from the regional registry, RIPE NCC in the UK and Europe. The ASN identifies your network in the global routing table. Your address space is what you announce from it.

IPv4 is scarce: new allocations are small and most growth now comes from the transfer market, so plan for it as a cost. IPv6 is the opposite, abundant and cheap, so take a generous allocation and deploy it from the start. An operator that announces its own IPv4 and IPv6 over BGP, from at least two upstreams, controls its own destiny in a way that a provider on borrowed addresses does not.

## Where Netavo fits

Netavo provides IP transit over both IPv4 and IPv6, with BGP routing, from its own core network, AS208802. Handover is available at Telehouse North and Telehouse East in London and at Pulsant Manchester, on 1G, 10G and 100G ports, so an operator can take resilient transit close to the peering fabric. Netavo is a member of LINX, peering on LON1 and LON2 with an open peering policy, and a member of the RIPE NCC. Capacity, routing and handover are designed with your engineers and supported by the people who run the network.

## Common questions

### Does Netavo provide IPv6 transit?

Yes. Netavo provides IP transit over both IPv4 and IPv6, with BGP routing.

### Where can I take handover from Netavo?

Netavo offers handover at Telehouse North and Telehouse East in London, and at Pulsant Manchester, on 1G, 10G and 100G ports.

### What is Netavo's AS number and peering policy?

Netavo operates AS208802. It is a member of LINX, peering on LON1 and LON2 with an open peering policy, and a member of the RIPE NCC.

## Related services

### [ISP Network Services](https://netavo.com/services/isp)

IP transit, backhaul and L2TP broadband for internet service providers and network operators.

### [Connectivity & WAN](https://netavo.com/services/connectivity)

Fibre and Ethernet access, private WAN and resilient connectivity, from a single site to a national estate.

## Taking transit for your network?

Tell us where you need handover and how much capacity, and an engineer will respond with options and partner pricing.

[Work with us](https://netavo.com/work-with-us)

Source: https://netavo.com/insights/ip-transit-and-peering