Re: Geofeeds are good — was Re: Publishing BGP communties for your network (Re: What's up with BGP communities?)

[Mike via NANOG <nanog () lists nanog org>]

 Using your own measurement is fine but where it gets a push back from some of us, is your statement that geofeed data 
is treated as tier 2.   I for one publish geofeeds in an automated fashion.  I would like this data to not be 
considered a red-headed stepchild.
    On Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 11:48:19 AM PST, Abdullah DevRel of IPinfo via NANOG <nanog () lists nanog org> 
wrote:  
 
 Every piece of advice and message shared with me helps our team. We are responsible for our data, and your help comes 
from generosity and kindness. You do not owe anything to us.

Ideally, we should not have any conversations at all. Our data should be so accurate in the first place that we are 
invisible to you and your customers. If the location data is correct, there should be no point of friction. We are 
trying to reach absolute accuracy but there are going to be some systematic errors. So, what do we do?

We focused on building our own active measurement-based independent systems that do not require thousands of network 
operators to be individually responsible by maintaining super accurate geofeeds. If we are producing the data, we 
should be responsible for the entire supply chain of data from source to delivery. We are trying everything from 
research to data to create an independent system that makes every internet user happy. We should be a company that is 
never complained about.

But that is not possible. The internet is a massive system and there are going to be systematic gaps. So, we have to be 
present in every conversation and every forum because there are going to be systematic accuracy errors. It is a data 
and a human issue. The goal is "Zero Complaints" about IP geolocation period. That means, we focus on research, data 
and human interactions.

We are tangible and accessible. The reason I am sharing about my LinkedIn is that I want ISPs to have a direct line to 
me. I check the NANOG message board each day. Every day. I may be slow to reply, but I do check it every day. And it is 
not just NANOG, Reddit, Hacker News, Twitter... you do not have to reach out with a problem. We will proactively 
provide a solution.

There will never be a situation where IPinfo, as a company, comes off as invisible. We welcome being blamed because we 
want to be accountable for every piece of data we produce.

Bad IP geolocation is frustrating. You as an ISP do not have a stake in this situation but you are forced in to the 
conversation.

I completely understand what you are saying. We want to buy hosting services. Allow us to pay for the privilege of 
providing good data for your customers. You do not owe us anything. Geofeed is great. But the fundamental nature of it 
is trust-based. So, we are more than happy to pay for this support by purchasing a server with ISPs. We need to reach 
200 countries this year. You mentioned an adversarial approach. Let us go for a consented approach by allowing us to 
host a server in your facility.

We are not the biggest player in the industry (unfortunately) and I am extremely frustrated that I talk to community 
members who cannot relax and watch the game. It is not you as an ISP getting blamed, but because we are so public, some 
customers blame us thinking that we, being so public, represent the entire industry.
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