Tuesday, October 22, 2013

ICANN gives greenlight delegation for first new gTLDs


The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has given green light for the delegation of the first new generic Top Level Domains (gTLDs), according to the Vice President, gTLD operations at ICANN, Ms Christine Willett.

“The time has come! Today, the first four domains from ICANN’s New Generic Top-Level Domains Programme were cleared to proceed to delegation,” Willett declared to DigitalSENSE Business News, stressing that this step marks the start of a measured roll out of new gTLDs, which are designed to expand opportunities for businesses, communities and Internet users around the world.

These first new gTLDs, or strings as they are called in the domain name industry are شبكة (xn--ngbc5azd) – the Arabic word for “Web” or “Network” Registry: International Domain Registry Pty. Ltd;  онлайн (xn--80asehdb) – Russian for “Online” Registry: Core Association; сайт (xn--80aswg) – Russian for “Web site” Registry: Core Association; and (xn--unup4y) – Chinese for “Game” Registry: Spring Fields, LLC-

She pointed out that all four of these new strings are Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs), which are currently available as Second-Level Domains and country code Top-Level Domains, but this would be the first time non-Latin characters could be used in a generic TLD.

She noted that building on the addition of Internationalized country-code TLDs in 2010, the move is an effort to create a more inclusive Internet.

The Registries operated by these IDN gTLDs, she said, successfully completed a rigorous application process designed to protect the stability of the Domain Name System (DNS), while introducing new gTLDs into the Internet.

“Only applicants that can meet the requirements outlined in the new gTLD applicant guidebook will be given an opportunity to operate a gTLD,” she said in a blogpost made available to DigitalSENSE Business News
The application process, she further said, follows in phases including evaluation, resolution of holds: objections, string contention, contracting, and pre-delegation testing.

ICANN, she therefore congratulated International Domain Registry Pty. Ltd, Core Association and Spring Fields, LLC on their success in the New gTLD Programme, and look forward to working with these and many other new Registries in the future.


Remmy Nweke
... Making SENSE of digital revolution!
Pix: VP, new gTLD at ICANN, Ms Christine Willett

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