Difference between revisions of "DotAfrica"
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==DCA Bid for DotAfrica== | ==DCA Bid for DotAfrica== | ||
| − | In 2006, Sophia Bekele, | + | In 2006, Sophia Bekele, initiated the proposal to develop the DotAfrica gTLD through her non-profit organization DCA, which will serve as the sponsor and registry operator. She first presented her proposal to the African Members of the [[ICANN Board]] as well as to African members of the different groups within the ICANN community in Lisbon. In her presentation, Bekele emphasized the need and significance of the DotAfrica domain name to reach and enrich the global internet community. She pointed out that DotAfrica will enable users to express their membership in a larger Pan African and African community, allow Africa to take its rightful place alongside [[.Asia]] and [[.eu|EU]].In addition Bekele cited that the DotAfrica proposal complies with the objectives of the [[WSIS]] to empower developing countries using ICT etc. It also complies with the Policies of the African Union, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the Africa Drive Project (ADP) for the development of the continent.<ref>[http://www.slideshare.net/Nyosef/dotafrica .Africa's Map in the Digital Inclusion: A Common Voice for Africa By Sophia Bekele]</ref> |
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==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 05:08, 28 September 2011
DotAfrica is one of the proposed generic top level domain names (gTLDs) by several African organizations to included in the Domain Name System (DNS) to promote the African Identity (businesses, people and culture) of the region in the internet. During the 2009 the African Union conference at Johannesburg, the Ministers expressed their support on the DotAfrica proposal and acknowledged its possible benefits for the development of the Internet within the African continent . The AU Ministers adopted a resolution to ""Establish dot Africa as a continental Top-Level Domain for use by organizations, businesses and individuals with guidance from African Internet agencies". [1] In addition, the African Union was mandated by its Member States to establish cooperation and partnerships with internet stakeholders as well as in the preparation and submission of an application for DotAfrica as new gTLD to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers.[2]
Background
The DotAfrica was first proposed by non-African companies during ICANN's first round of application to implement new gTLDs in 2000, however the application was strongly opposed by some African professionals. They perceived that the application was not beneficial for the African continent. Subsequently in 2002, those professionals who oppose the application started to develop a draft for the operational model for DotAfrica which will be managed by Africans.[3] Since then, some African entities has been interested in the implementation of DotAfrica as a new gTLD. These entities include Dot Connect Africa (DCA), a Mauritius based not for profit, not partisan organization founded by Sophia Bekele and the Africa Top Level Domain (AfTLD) Organization, a non-profit organization also established in Mauritius headed by Vika Mpisane.
DCA Bid for DotAfrica
In 2006, Sophia Bekele, initiated the proposal to develop the DotAfrica gTLD through her non-profit organization DCA, which will serve as the sponsor and registry operator. She first presented her proposal to the African Members of the ICANN Board as well as to African members of the different groups within the ICANN community in Lisbon. In her presentation, Bekele emphasized the need and significance of the DotAfrica domain name to reach and enrich the global internet community. She pointed out that DotAfrica will enable users to express their membership in a larger Pan African and African community, allow Africa to take its rightful place alongside .Asia and EU.In addition Bekele cited that the DotAfrica proposal complies with the objectives of the WSIS to empower developing countries using ICT etc. It also complies with the Policies of the African Union, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the Africa Drive Project (ADP) for the development of the continent.[4]