![]() So IP lookup will provide a different address each time even though the user or users, their location and the sites they visit remain the same. This means that each time they connect to the network, such as after a power outage or router reboot to try to resolve connectivity issues, they’ll be assigned a different IP address. Individual users of an internet service provider, especially home users, typically have a dynamic IP address on the ISP’s network. ![]() In the UK, a group of smaller countries, this can result in errors that can, if rarely, get the country wrong. One study from September 2021 found that 75% of IPv4 internet addresses are assigned for less than a day.Īlso, while the detected phone network provider may be correct, the location that gets detected might be the office for the network provider rather than the user’s location. This means that a user’s mobile phone location will be constantly changing and can mean that IP Geolocation might be accurate from 50 KM to 100 KM. As people naturally go about their day such as commuting or going shopping, they’re constantly moving to a different location and they’ll be ‘passed’ from one cell phone tower to the next. One clear example of this becomes clear using a mobile device such as a smartphone. Systemic problemsĪs mentioned above, IP addresses are a complex system and have inherent disadvantages alongside their advantages.Ĭonnectivity and mobility image courtesy of Pixabay So, no delays and no additional management is needed. As soon as the data is updated by the vendor, it’ll automatically become usable on your systems. The advantage of an API is that this potential complication is abstracted away. This inevitably means that there will be a delay between the point in time at which an update becomes available and the time at which it gets rolled out for your service. So, this will need to be a responsibility that’s allocated to someone in the IT team with an update schedule to ensure that the database remains up to date on an ongoing basis. However, the big disadvantage is that it means that you’re going to be solely responsible for updating the database. The advantage of third party databases providing IP addresses from a local server is that it won’t consume any additional bandwidth to produce the data. Typically, there are two methods for carrying out IP Geolocation: databases and APIs. If there’s value for them in terms of enabling location sensitive services, then there’s a good chance that they’ll be prepared to update the location. On the user side of the equation, give the user the option to correct the location you’ve detected. ![]() If there’s a difference between the data and location data is that important for you, then consider moving to a paid option where more frequent updates are taking place. ![]() If location data is important for your operations, assess how often an ISP updates their free databases versus their paid databases. You can assess the exactness of individual geolocation services for your operational needs by using a trial account to test it directly. As a result, IP geolocation may prove to be the more attractive option. However, the cost of deploying more accurate technologies such as GPS may be noticeably greater. In such a connected world with so many interdependent systems, we shouldn’t be surprised to learn that sourcing a user’s physical location to the right city can be a challenge. If an ISP releases a block of unwanted IP addresses or acquires more, then this can lead to inaccuracy. It’s possible to submit updates to ARIN on an ongoing basis, but if this is only done a limited number of times over a specific time period, then the data may be inaccurate.Īlso, individual ISPs may not be current themselves. Therefore, there’s a short window during which data available from ARIN post-update may be inaccurate. While updates to ARIN can be submitted, they don’t register in ARIN immediately. While all IP databases get their data from ARIN (American Registry for Internet Numbers) it can still be wrong. There’s an old saying in the digital era: garbage in, garbage out. This means that it can’t be viewed as an exact location finder and that for some sites or services, it can be important to give the user the option to confirm their address. However, the more granular the data becomes, the harder it becomes to ensure that it’s accurate.Īs a result, it’s important to understand that even the best IP geolocation services, despite their many strengths for websites, are innately prone to a margin of error. As a result, IP geolocation accuracy is estimated to be:Īs you can see, it starts to decline because it’s relatively easy when the IP lookup is attempting to determine an area as large as a country.
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