This guide is for Turkish hobby network operators who have (or will obtain) their own ASN and IPv6 block and want to connect to RegPEX. Whether you have a technical background or not, you can work through this process step by step.
RegPEX and 3C1B Telecom are committed to growing the hobby networking community in Turkey. This program is designed to offer you both an educational and a completely free (up to 1 Gbps) IX experience.
Please note: This program is exclusively available to Turkish citizens residing in Turkey. This is a deliberate positive initiative to support the domestic hobby internet community — not a commercial restriction.
1. What Are ASN and IPv6? Why Do You Need Them?
Autonomous System Number (ASN)
The internet is made up of thousands of interconnected networks. Each network has its own identity called an Autonomous System Number (ASN). Having an ASN allows you to announce your own IP block to the internet and establish direct BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) peering sessions with other networks.
As a hobby user, getting an ASN means:
- Learning how BGP works in a real environment,
- Owning your own IPv6 block,
- Exchanging traffic directly with other networks via an Internet Exchange (IX).
IPv6 Address Block
IPv6 is the future of the internet. RIPE NCC will allocate a /48 IPv6 block registered in your name. This block contains 65,536 /64 networks — more than enough for hobby use — and belongs entirely to you.
2. Who Can Apply?
To benefit from the RegPEX Hobby Membership program, you must:
- Be a Turkish citizen,
- Reside in Turkey at the time of application,
- Act as an individual (not as a company or legal entity),
- Have your internet connection provided through a BTK-licensed Turkish operator.
For detailed eligibility requirements, see the Pricing Policy §7.
3. How to Obtain an ASN and IPv6 Block
To apply you need your own ASN and an IPv6 /48 block. You obtain both from RIPE NCC yourself, either directly or through a LIR (Local Internet Registry) of your choice. RegPEX/3C1B does not provide a sponsoring service.
Hobby Membership itself is free of charge (Hobby Membership Agreement §5.1, Fee Schedule §2.6). Any fee charged by RIPE NCC or the LIR you choose is a matter between you and them.
Your resources are registered in your name; you can transfer them to another LIR at any time.
4. Step-by-Step Process
Step 1 — Obtain Your ASN and IPv6 Block
Obtain an ASN and an IPv6 /48 block from RIPE NCC, directly or through a LIR. When done you should have:
- An ASN number (e.g.
AS215XXXX) - An IPv6 /48 block (e.g.
2a0e:xxxx::/48) aut-numandinet6numobjects in the RIPE database- An RPKI ROA record (recommended)
Step 2 — Create Your PeeringDB Entry
Open an account at PeeringDB and register your network:
- Network Type: Select
Hobbyist / Personal - Enter your ASN number and IPv6 block
- Fill in your contact information
This step is mandatory for RegPEX Hobby Membership.
Step 3 — Apply for RegPEX Hobby Membership
Apply through the membership application form. Have the following ready:
- Your RIPE NCC handle (e.g.
AB1234-RIPE) - The URL of your PeeringDB network page
- A proof of residence in Turkey
Step 4 — GRE Tunnel Setup
After your application is approved, our NOC team will send you the GRE tunnel parameters within 5 business days. Parameters include:
- The tunnel endpoint IP address on the RegPEX side
- Your IX peering address (IPv6)
- BGP session details (route server IP and ASN)
If you need assistance with the tunnel setup, 3C1B Telecom technical support will guide you.
Step 5 — Establish Your BGP Session
Open a BGP session with the route server and announce your IPv6 prefixes. Within a few minutes you can verify your prefixes via the Looking Glass and see peering sessions with other members on the Peering Matrix.
5. Frequently Asked Questions
I have no BGP experience. Can I still learn? Yes — that is exactly what this program is for. BIRD 2 and FRRouting documentation are good starting points. 3C1B Telecom technical support can also help with the initial setup.
Is a home router or server sufficient? Yes. A Linux server or a MikroTik/Cisco/Juniper router at home is enough to establish a GRE tunnel and run BGP.
Is a Türk Telekom, Turkcell, or Superonline connection sufficient? Yes. A fixed IP connection from any BTK-licensed Turkish ISP is sufficient.
Do you provide the ASN and IPv6 block? No. You obtain your own ASN and IPv6 /48 block from RIPE NCC, directly or through a LIR. RegPEX/3C1B does not provide a sponsoring service.
What happens if I exceed 1 Gbps? The hobby connection is limited to 1 Gbit/s; traffic above that is not accepted (a hard rate limit is applied at the connection port). If your traffic reaches this scale, it may be time to consider a commercial membership — contact us to discuss tailored options.
6. Contact
- Hobby membership enquiries: peering@regpex.tr
- Technical support (tunnel, BGP): noc@regpex.tr
- Phone: +90 (312) 486 01 86
- Contact Form: regpex.tr/en/contact