How accurate is IP geolocation?

With more than two decades in the business of IP geolocation, we spend a lot of time thinking about accuracy, but, as with all things big data, a simple question (“How accurate is IP geolocation?”) usually has a complex answer. In this post, we’ll talk about some common assumptions about how IP geolocation works and contextualize those assumptions in light of the structure of the internet and the distribution of the IP space across geographical regions. In light of these considerations, we’ll develop a deeper understanding of the constraints and opportunities for IP geolocation.