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Country code top-level domain

Revision as of 21:23, 12 November 2011 by Marie Cabural (talk | contribs) (→Open ccTLDs)

The Country Code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs) represent two-letter Internet top-level domains (TLDs) specifically designed for a particular country, sovereign state or autonomous territory for use to service their community. ccTLDs are two-letter top-level domains which are derived from the ISO 3166 standard.[1]

Implementation[edit | edit source]

The implementation of ccTLDs was started by IANA. The delegation and creation of ccTLDs is presented within RFC 1951. In order to determine whether new ccTLDs should be added or not, the IANA follows the provisions of ISO 3166 - Maintenance Agency. More information related to the development of new ccTLDs in comprised within IANA's Procedures for Establishing ccTLDs. [2]

IANA's Procedures for ccTLDs[edit | edit source]

Within its database, IANA contains authoritative information related to ccTLDs, referring to sponsoring organizations, technical and administrative contacts, name servers, registration URLs and other such information. This type of information provides extra details regarding the IANA's procedures for maintaining the ccTLD database.

Delegation and Redelegation[edit | edit source]

The process through which the designated manager, or managers, is changed is know as redelegation. The process follows the provisions of ICP-1 and RFC 1591. IANA receives all requests of a sponsoring organization related to delegation and redelegation for the ccTLDs. The requests are then analyzed by IANA based on various technical and public criterion, and finally sent to the ICANN Board of Directors for approval or refusal. If approved, IANA is also responsible for the implementation of the request.[3]

Conceptually speaking, the delegation and redelegation processes are simple, but can easily become complex if there are many organizations and individuals involved in the process. There is a set of steps which must be followed before sending the request for delegation or redelegation. An initial request should be developed based on The Change Request Template and supplementary information to prove that the eligibility criteria has been met by the initial request. All the information supplied is used by the IANA to fortify the request received.

ccTLDs and ICANN[edit | edit source]

The policies developed by ICANN are implemented by gTLD registry operators, ccTLD managers, root-nameserver operators and regional Internet registries. One of the main activities of ICANN is to work with other organizations involved in the technical coordination of the Internet with the purpose of formally documenting their participatory role within the ICANN process. These organizations are committed to the ICANN policies that result from their work.[4]

Starting in 2000, ICANN started cooperating with ccTLD managers to document their relationship. Due to various circumstances such as: the type of organization, cultural issues, economics, the legal environment, etc., the relationships between ICANN and ccTLD mangers are often complex. Another consideration is the role of the national government in "managing or establishing policy for their own ccTLD" (role recognized in the June 1998, U.S. Government White Paper).

In 2009, ICANN began the implementation of an IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process,[5] whereby countries that use non-Latin script are able to claim ccTLDs in their native script and the corresponding Latin version. As of early 2011, 33 requests have been received, representing 22 languages.[6] More than half have already been approved.[7]

Open ccTLDs[edit | edit source]

An Open ccTLD refers to a country code top level domain name that can be registered by anyone regardless of which country the person resides in.These ccTLD represent a particular branding aside from the name of the country or territory it represents such as .cc (Cocos Island), .tv (Tuvalus), .ws (Western Samoa) and .co (Colombia). Their alternatives include commercial companies or consulting companies for .cc, television for .tv, websites for .ws, and company for.co respectively. [8]

Many entities are interested in registering domain names using open ccTLD's particularly .co as a great alternative to the overly populated .com name space to establish or boost their brands or trademarks and to increase web traffic to generate sales. The management of the .Co Internet S.A.S. explained .co as an open ccTLD is easy to remember and it can be used to represent companies, corporations, communities, content, etc.[9]

Some of the companies using the .co domain space as a branded shortener include Overstock.com (O.co), Twitter (T.co), Politico (politi.co), Venture Hacks (vh.co), Google (g.co), etc.[10] The x.co is used by Go Daddy as a URL shortener.[11]

On the other hand, .tv ccTLD is currently operated by Verisign. Entities involved in the television, film animation industries as well as individuals providing video contents in their blogs or websites favored a .tv domain name to effectively attract their target audience to earn more revenue. [12] Internet users understand that a .tv domain name offers video contents.

Current ccTLDs[edit | edit source]

ccTLDEntityRegistry OperatorNotes
.acAscension IslandAC Domain Registry
.adAndorraAndorra Telecom
.aeUnited Arab EmiratesTelecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA)
.afAfghanistanAfghanistan Ministry of Communications and IT
.agAntigua and BarbudaUHSA School of Medicine
.aiAnguillaGovernment of Anguilla
.alAlbaniaAlbania Electronic and Postal Communications Authority (AKEP)
.amArmeniaISOC ArmeniaCitizenship required
.anAntilles (Netherlands)University of the Netherlands - AntillesBeing phased out
.aoAngolaFaculdade de Engenharia da Universidade Agostinho Neto
.aqAntarcticaMott and AssociatesAvailable to government organizations who are signatories to the Antarctic Treaty, and other registrants with a local physical presence.
.arArgentinaMRECIC
.asAmerican SamoaAS Domain Registry
.atAustriaNic.at
.auAustraliaauDAABN (Australian Business Number) required
.awArubaSETARRestricted to local companies, organizations, and citizens
.axAland IslandsÅlands landskapsregering
.azAzerbaijanIntraDNS
.baBosnia and HerzegovinaUTIC
.bbBarbadosGovernment of Barbados Ministry of Economic Affairs and Development Telecommunications Unit
.bdBangladeshMinistry of Post & Telecommunications Bangladesh Secretariat
.beBelgiumDNS BEAlso unofficially used in Berne, Switzerland
.bfBurkina FasoARCE
.bgBulgariaRegister.BG
.bhBahrainBATELCO
.biBurundiCentre National de l'Informatique
.bjBeninOffices des Postes et Telecommunications
.blSaint BarthelemyUnassignedCurrently not in root zone
.bmBermudaRegistry General Ministry of Labour and ImmigrationLocal corporate registration required
.bnBrunei DarussalamJabatan Telekom Brunei
.boBoliviaAgencia para el Desarrollo de la Información de la Sociedad en Bolivia
.bqBonaire, Sint Eustatius and SabaUnassignedCurrently not in root zone
.brBrazilComite Gestor da Internet no BrasilTop level registration is restricted, registration at second level
.bsBahamasThe College of the Bahamas
.btBhutanMinistry of Information and Communications
.bvBouvet IslandUNINETT Norid ASNot in use
.bwBotswanaUniversity of Botswana
.byBelarusOpen Contact Ltd.
.bzBelizeUniversity of Belize
.caCanadaCIRASubject to Canadian Presence Requirements
.ccCocos (Keeling) IslandseNIC Cocos Islands Pty. Ltd.Second level domains used in free, public domain service
.cdDemocratic Republic of the CongoOCPT
.cfCentral African RepublicSOCATEL
.cgRepublic of CongoONPT Congo and Interpoint Switzerland
.chSwitzerlandSWITCH
.ciCote d'IvoireINP-HB
.ckCook IslandsTelecom Cook Islands Ltd.
.clChileNIC ChileLocal presence required
.cmCameroonCAMTELRestricted to local entities/companies
.cnChinaCNNICRegistration allowed worldwide
.coColombia.co Internet
.crCosta RicaAcademia Nacional de Ciencias
.cuCubaCENIA
.cvCape VerdeANAC
.cwCuraçaoUnassignedCurrently not in root zone
.cxChristmas IslandChristmas Island Internet Administration Ltd.
.cyCyprusUniversity of Cyprus
.czCzech RepublicCZ.NIC
.deGermanyDENICGerman postal address required for administrative contact
.djDjiboutiDjibouti Telecom SA
.dkDenmarkDansk Internet Forum
.dmDominicaDotDM Corporation
.doDominican RepublicPontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra Recinto Santo Tomas de Aquino
.dzAlgeriaCERIST
.ecEcuadorNIC.EC
.eeEstoniaNational Institute of Chemical Physics and BiophysicsEstonian postal address required for administrative contact
.egEgyptEUN Supreme Council of Universities
.ehWestern SaharaUnassignedCurrently not in root zone
.erEritreaEriTel
.esSpainRed.es
.etEthiopiaEthiopian Telecommunications Corporation
.euEuropean UnionEURidRestricted to institutions, companies, and individuals within the European Union
.fiFinlandFinnish Communications Regulatory AuthorityLimited to companies and organizations registered in Finland and Finnish citizens
.fjFijiThe University of the South Pacific IT Services
.fkFalkland Islands (Malvinas)Falkland Islands Government
.fmFederated States of MicronesiaFSM Telecommunications Corporation
.foFaroe IslandsFO Council
.frFranceAFNICFrench presence required
.gaGabonGabon Telecom
.gbUnited KingdomUnassigned, reserved domainOriginally meant to replace .uk
.gdGrenadaNTRC
.geGeorgiaCaucasus Online
.gfFrench GuianaNet Plus
.ggGuernseyIsland Networks Ltd.
.ghGhanaNetwork Computer Systems Ltd.
.giGibraltarSapphire Networks
.glGreenlandTELE Greenland AS
.gmGambiaGM-NIC
.gnGuineaCentre National des Sciences Halieutiques de Boussoura
.gpGuadeloupeNetworking Technologies Group
.gqEquatorial GuineaGETESA
.grGreeceICS-FORTH GR
.gsSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsGSGSSI
.gtGuatemalaUniversidad del Valle de Guatemala
.guGuamUniversity of Guam Computer Center
.gwGuinea-BissauFundação IT and MEDIA Universidade de Bissao
.gyGuyanaUniversity of Guyana
.hkHong KongHong Kong Internet Registration Corporation Ltd.
.hmHeard Island and McDonald IslandsHM Domain Registry
.hnHondurasRed de Desarrollo Sostenible Honduras
.hrCroatiaCARnet
.htHaitiConsortium FDS/RDDH
.huHungaryCHIP
.idIndonesiaIDNIC-PPAU Mikroelektronika
.ieIrelandUniversity College Dublin Computing ServicesLimited to Irish citizens, Ireland-registered brands and companies, and companies doing business in Ireland
.ilIsraelISOC Israel
.imIsle of ManIsle of Man Government
.inIndiaNIXI
.ioBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryIO Top Level Domain Registry Cable and Wireless
.iqIraqCMC
.irIslamic Republic of IranInstitute for Research in Fundamental Sciences
.isIcelandISNIC
.itItalyIIT - CNRRestricted to companies and individuals within the EU
.jeJerseyIsland Networks (Jersey) Ltd.
.jmJamaicaUniversity of West Indies
.joJordanNITC
.jpJapanJapan Registry ServicesPhysical address within Japan required
.keKenyaKeNIC
.kgKyrgyzstanAsiaInfo Telecommunications Enterprise
.khCambodiaCambodia Ministry of Post and Telecommunications
.kiKiribatiMinistry of Communications, Transport, and Tourism Development
.kmComorosComores Telecom
.knSaint Kitts and NevisMinistry of Finance, Sustainable Development Information & Technology
.kpDemocratic People's Republic of KoreaStar Joint Venture Company
.kpRepublic of KoreaKISA
.kwKuwaitMinistry of Communications
.kyCaymen IslandsThe Information and Communication AuthorityRestricted to qualified Cayman entities
.kzKazakhstanAssociation of IT Companies of Kazakhstan
.laLaosLANICCurrently marketed as an unofficial domain for Los Angeles
.lbLebanonAmerican University of Beirut Computing and Networking Services Restricted to companies within Lebanon
.lcSaint LuciaUniversity of Puerto Rico
.liLiechtensteinUniversitaet Liechtenstein
.lkSri LankaCouncil for Information Technology and LK Domain Registrar
.lrLiberiaData Technology Solutions, Inc.
.lsLesothoNational University of Lesotho
.ltLithuaniaKaunas University of Technology Information Technology Development Institute
.luLuxembourgRESTENA
.lvLatviaInstitute of Mathematics and Computer Science Department of Network Solutions
.lyLibyaGeneral Post and Telecommunications Company
.maMoroccoANRT
.mcMonacoGouvernement de Monaco Direction des Communications Electroniques
.mdRepublic of MoldovaMoldDataMarketed to medical professionals worldwide
.meMontenegroGovernment of Montenegro
.mfSaint MartinUnassignedCurrently not in root zone
.mgMadagascarNIC-MG
.mhMarshall IslandsCabinet Office
.mkMacedoniaMinistry of Foreign RelationsRestricted to companies within Macedonia
.mlMaliSOTELMA
.mmMyanmarMinistry of Communications, Posts & Telegraphs
.mnMongoliaDatacom Co., Ltd.
.moMacaoUniversity of Macau
.mpNorthern Mariana IslandsSaipan Datacom
.mqMartiniqueSYSTEL
.mrMauritaniaUniversity of Nouakchott
.msMontserratMNI Networks Ltd.
.mtMaltaNIC Malta
.muMauritiusInternet Direct Ltd
.mvMaldivesDHIVEHINET
.mwMalawiMalawi SDNP
.mxMexicoNIC Mexico
.myMalaysiaMYNICRestricted to individuals and companies within Malaysia
.ncNew CaledoniaOffice des Postes et Telecommunications
.neNigerSONITEL
.nfNorfolk IslandNorfolk Island Data Services
.ngNigeriaNiRA
.niNicaraguaUniversidad Nacional del Ingernieria Centro de Computo
.nlNetherlandsStichting Internet Domeinregistratie NederlandWas the first official ccTLD to be assigned
.noNorwayUNINETT Norid ASRestricted to companies in Norway. Individuals may register under the SLD .priv.no.
.npNepalMercantile Communications
.nrNauruCENPAC NETSecond level domain .co.nr is used as a free domain service
.nuNiueThe IUSN FoundationUnofficially used as "new" for English language websites and "now" for Danish, Dutch, and Swedish websites.
.nzNew ZealandInternetNZ
.omOmanTRA
.paPanamaUniversidad Tecnologica de Panama
.pePeruRed Cientifica Peruana
.pfFrench PolynesiaMinistère des Postes et Télécommunications
.pgPapua New GuineaPNG DNS Administration
.phPhilippinesPH Domain Foundation
.pkPakistanPKNIC
.plPolandResearch and Academic Computer Network
.pmSaint Pierre and MiquelonAFNIC
.pnPitcairnPitcairn Island Administration
.prPuerto RicoGauss Research Laboratory
.psPalestineMinistry of Telecommunications & IT
.ptPortugalFundação para a Computação Científica Nacional
.pwPalauMicronesia Investment and Development Corporation
.pyParaguayNIC-PY
.qaQatarictQATAR
.reReunionAFNICRestricted to brand owners in Reunion and to companies with an address in Reunion.
.roRomaniaNational Institute for R&D in Informatics
.rsSerbiaRNIDS
.ruRussiaCoordination Center for TLD RU
.rwRwandaNIC Congo
.saSaudi ArabiaCommunications and Information Technology
.sbSolomon IslandsSolomon Telekom Company
.scSeychellesVCS
.sdSudanISOC Sudan
.seSwedenInterner Infrastructure Foundation
.sgSingaporeSGNIC
.shSaint HelenaGovernment of St. Helena
.siSloveniaARNES
.sjSvalbard and Jan MayenUNINETT Norid ASNot in use
.skSlovakiaSK-NICRestricted to Slovakian companies, organizations, and citizens
.slSierra LeoneSierratel
.smSan MarinoTelecom Italia San MarinoDomain name must be same as company name or trademark
.snSenegalUniversite Cheikh Anta Diop and NIC Senegal
.soSomaliaSomalia Ministry of Post and TelecommunicationsRelaunched on Novemner 1, 2010
.srSurinameTelesur
.ssSouth SudanUnassignedCurrently not in root zone
.stSao Tome and PrincipeTecnisys
.su]]Soviet UnionROSNIIROSBeing phased out in favor of .ru
.svEl SalvadorSVNet
.sxSint MaartenUnassignedCurrently not in root zone
.sySyriaNANS
.szSwazilandUniversity of Swaziland Department of Computer Science
.tcTurks and Caicos IslandsMelrexTC
.tdChadSOTEL TCHADRestricted to entities connected with Chad
.tfFrench Southern TerritoriesAFNIC
.tgTogoCafe Informatique et Telecommunications
.thThailandTHNIC
.tjTajikistanInformation Technology Center
.tkTokelauTeletokUsed as a free public domain service
.tlTimor-LesteMinistry Infrastructure Information and Technology Division Old code, .tp, still also in use
.tmTurkmenistanTM Domain Registry
.tnTunisiaAgence Tunisienne d'Internet
.toTongaGovernment of the Kingdom of TongaUnofficially used for torrent, Toronto, and Tokyo
.tpPortuguese TimorUnassignedBeing phased out in favor of .tl
.trTurkeyMiddle East Technical University Department of Computer Engineering.nc.tr used by Northern Cyprus
.ttTrinidad and TobagoUniversity of the West Indies Faculty of Engineering
.tvTuvaluMinistry of Finance and TourismUsed as a abbreviation for television
.twTaiwanTWNICRegistration allowed worldwide
.tzTanzaniaTzNICPresence within Tanzania required
.uaUkraineCommunication Systems Ltd.
.ugUgandaUganda Online
.ukUnited KingdomNominetUkranian trademark required
.umUnited States Minor Outlying IslandsUnassignedCurrently not in root zone
.usUnited StatesNeuStarCommonly used by US state and local governments instead of .gov
.uyUruguaySeCIU
.uzUzbekistanUZINFOCOM
.vaVatican CityInternet Office of the Holy SeeLimited to officials sites of the Vatican/Holy See
.vcSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesMinistry of Telecommunications, Science, Technology and Industry
.veVenezuelaCONATEL
.vgBritish Virgin IslandsPinebrook Developments Ltd.
.viUS Virgin IslandsNIC.vi
.vnVietnamMinistry of Information and Communications of Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
.vuVanuatuTelecom Vanuatu Ltd.
.wfWallis and FutunaAFNIC
.wsSamoaGovernment of Samoa Ministry of Foreign Affairs

[13][14]

References[edit | edit source]

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