Which of the following about hierarchical IPv4 addressing is FALSE?

The statement that hierarchical IPv4 addressing increases the number of IP addresses available in the Internet is false. The hierarchical structure of IP addressing, which organizes IP addresses into a system of blocks, does not inherently increase the total number of addresses that exist within the IPv4 standard. Instead, it organizes existing addresses more efficiently to manage routing and address allocation.

In IPv4, the total number of unique addresses is limited by its design — specifically, it allows for approximately 4.3 billion addresses. Hierarchical addressing is about effectively using and managing these addresses rather than expanding the available pool of addresses.

The other aspects related to hierarchical IPv4 addressing correctly describe its benefits: it creates a structured method for addressing with identifiable segments (hence the concept of summation), supports subnetting to effectively manage and allocate IP space, and aids in route summarization to keep routing tables manageable and efficient.