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A Country Code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD) is a two-letter Internet top-level domains (TLDs) specifically designated for a particular country, sovereign state or autonomous territory for use to service their community. ccTLDs are derived from ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country codes.[1]
Implementation
The implementation of ccTLDs was started by IANA which is not a physical organization or an individual but it is part of ICANN.[2] The delegation and creation of ccTLDs is presented within RFC 1591. 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 can be found in IANA's Procedures for Establishing ccTLDs. [3]
IANA's Procedures for ccTLDs
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
The process through which the designated manager, or managers, is changed is known as redelegation. The latter 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.[4]
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 that 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 IANA to fortify the request received.[4]
ccTLDs and ICANN
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.
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).[5]
In 2009, ICANN began the implementation of an IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process,[6] 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.[7] More than half have already been approved.[8]
Pseudo-ccTLD
A pseudo-ccTLD mimics an official country code domain without formal recognition, often used for branding or to suggest geographical affiliation.
Open ccTLDs
Related Article - Open Use ccTLD
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 ccTLDs generally represent a particular branding opportunity aside from the name of the country or territory it represents. Examples include .cc (Cocos Island) for consulting companies, .tv (Tuvalu) for television, .ws (Western Samoa) for websites, and .co (Colombia) as an alternative to .com for companies.[9]
.cc and .tv
Verisign is the registry operator of both .cc and .tv open ccTLDs. eNIC, a subsidiary company of Verisign, manages the operation and marketing of .cc. The company promotes the ccTLD as a good alternative for the .com and .net domain name spaces. The target users for the .cc include entities that, for example, want to develop websites representing a Chinese company, country club, consulting company, chat community, church community, community center, chamber of commerce, or community college.[10]
TodayISP.com, one of the registrars offering .cc, describes the ccTLD as a new international domain name having the same features of the .com and .net, as it is understood by users as an acronym for commercial company, it offers potential business value, and is becoming the latest fashion in domain names, making its value increase.[11]
The .tv ccTLD is currently operated by dotTV, another subsidiary company of Verisign. Domain names using the .tv ccTLD are registered by entities involved in the television, film, and animation industries, as well as individuals providing video contents in their blogs or websites.[12] Internet users understand that a .tv domain name offers video content. In 2006, Demand Media and Verisign partnered to promote the .tv TLD as a preferred web address for media rich content. Richard Rosenblatt, Chairman and CEO of Demand Media, explained that the landscape of Internet media is changing quickly, and many users want to publish and share their own video materials. According to Rosenblatt, "By registering a .tv domain name and adding video content of their choosing, users can program their own channel."[13]
.co
The Colombian Ministry of Information Technology and Communication assigned the management of the .co ccTLD registry to the .CO Internet SAS, a joint venture between Arcelandia SA and Neustar, Inc. Since its launch in February 2010, the .co ccTLD has been marketed by .co Internet as a "new, flexible, and safe global extension" for internet users worldwide.[14]
According to Juan Diego Calle, CEO of .co Internet, the .co TLD will serve as a good alternative for users who are looking for a credible, global and recognizable domain name that is affordable and critical to achieving their online success. He explained that .co is well-known worldwide by Internet users as a short term for corporation or company, and the .co domain name space will provide millions of users the opportunity register their desired domain names to establish their online presence. Calle said that his company is targeting Internet users around the world who have dreams, ideas or contents to share.[15]
.CO Internet SAS is promoting the .co TLD as an easy to remember top level domain representing companies, corporations, communities, content, etc. and searchable, secure, committed, confident, flexible, networked with a growing community.[16] [17]
Some companies use the .co domain space as a branded shortener or in domain hacks, such as with Overstock.com (O.co), Twitter (T.co), Politico (politi.co), Venture Hacks (vh.co), Google (g.co), etc.[18] Others use it as a URL shortener, such as GoDaddy's x.co.[19]
.fm and .am
The .fm and .am ccTLDs are marketed by BRS Media Inc. for use by music, radio, and social media websites. A percentage of the income from .fm registrations goes back to the government and people of the Federated States of Micronesia.[20] .am has also been used in the domain hack instagr.am.[21]
.ws
The .ws ccTLD is managed and operated by SamoaNIC,[22] and it is promoting the TLD as a shortened form of Web Site or World Site.[23] The marketing strategy provides users global presence. The marketing program for .ws is carried out by Global Domains International Incorporated.[24]
.me
The ccTLD of Montenegro, .me, has been marketed by DoMEn for use by bloggers, social media users, and socially inclined websites and companies.[25]
Current ccTLDs
The following is a list of the current ccTLDs, including their registry operators and any special notes about registration of the domains.[26][27]
| ccTLD | Entity | Registry Operator | Notes |
| .ac | Ascension Island | Nic.ac | |
| .ad | Andorra | Andorra Telecom | |
| .ae | United Arab Emirates | UAEnic | |
| .af | Afghanistan | AfgNIC | |
| .ag | Antigua and Barbuda | Nic AG | |
| .ai | Anguilla | Government of Anguilla | |
| .al | Albania | Albania Electronic and Postal Communications Authority (AKEP) | |
| .am | Armenia | ISOC.AM (Armenian Branch of ISOC) | |
| .an | Antilles (Netherlands) | University of the Netherlands Antilles | Being phased out |
| .ao | Angola | Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade Agostinho Neto | |
| .aq | Antarctica | Mott and Associates | Available to government organizations who are signatories to the Antarctic Treaty, and other registrants with a local physical presence. |
| .ar | Argentina | NIC Argentina | |
| .as | American Samoa | AS Domain Registry | |
| .at | Austria | Nic.at | |
| .au | Australia | auDA | ABN (Australian Business Number) required |
| .aw | Aruba | SETAR | Restricted to local companies, organizations, and citizens |
| .ax | Aland Islands | Ålands Landskapsregeringen | |
| .az | Azerbaijan | IntraNS | |
| .ba | Bosnia and Herzegovina | UTIC | |
| .bb | Barbados | Government of Barbados Ministry of Economic Affairs and Development Telecommunications Unit | |
| .bd | Bangladesh | Ministry of Post & Telecommunications Bangladesh Secretariat | |
| .be | Belgium | DNS Belgium | Also unofficially used in Berne, Switzerland |
| .bf | Burkina Faso | ARCEP | |
| .bg | Bulgaria | Register.BG | |
| .bh | Bahrain | BATELCO | |
| .bi | Burundi | Burundi National Center of Information Technology | |
| .bj | Benin | Offices des Postes et Telecommunications | |
| .bl | Saint Barthelemy | Unassigned | Currently not in root zone |
| .bm | Bermuda | Registry General Ministry of Labour and Immigration | Local corporate registration required |
| .bn | Brunei Darussalam | Jabatan Telekom Brunei | |
| .bo | Bolivia | Agencia para el Desarrollo de la Información de la Sociedad en Bolivia | |
| .bq | Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba | Unassigned | Currently not in root zone |
| .br | Brazil | NIC.br | Top level registration is restricted, registration at second level |
| .bs | Bahamas | The College of the Bahamas | |
| .bt | Bhutan | Ministry of Information and Communications | |
| .bv | Bouvet Island | UNINETT Norid AS | Not in use |
| .bw | Botswana | Botswana Telecommunications Corporation | |
| .by | Belarus | Open Contact Ltd. | |
| .bz | Belize | University of Belize | |
| .ca | Canada | CIRA | Subject to Canadian Presence Requirements |
| .cc | Cocos (Keeling) Islands | eNIC Cocos Islands Pty. Ltd. | Second level domains used in free, public domain service |
| .cd | Democratic Republic of the Congo | CDNIC | |
| .cf | Central African Republic | Dot CF | |
| .cg | Republic of Congo | ONPT Congo and Interpoint Switzerland | |
| .ch | Switzerland | SWITCH | |
| .ci | Cote d'Ivoire | INP-HB | |
| .ck | Cook Islands | Telecom Cook Islands Ltd. | |
| .cl | Chile | NIC Chile | Local presence required |
| .cm | Cameroon | CAMTEL | Restricted to local entities/companies |
| .cn | China | CNNIC | Registration allowed worldwide |
| .co | Colombia | .co Internet | |
| .cr | Costa Rica | Academia Nacional de Ciencias | |
| .cu | Cuba | CENIA | |
| .cv | Cape Verde | ANAC | |
| .cw | Curaçao | University of the Netherlands Antilles | |
| .cx | Christmas Island | Christmas Island Internet Administration Ltd. | |
| .cy | Cyprus | University of Cyprus | |
| .cz | Czech Republic | CZ.NIC | |
| .de | Germany | DENIC | German postal address required for administrative contact |
| .dj | Djibouti | Djibouti Telecom SA | |
| .dk | Denmark | DK Hostmaster | |
| .dm | Dominica | DotDM Corporation | |
| .do | Dominican Republic | Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra Recinto Santo Tomas de Aquino | |
| .dz | Algeria | NIC.dz | |
| .ec | Ecuador | ECUADORDOMAIN S.A. | |
| .ee | Estonia | Estonian Internet Foundation | Estonian postal address required for administrative contact |
| .eg | Egypt | EUN Supreme Council of Universities | |
| .eh | Western Sahara | Unassigned | Currently not in root zone |
| .er | Eritrea | EriTel | |
| .es | Spain | RED.ES | |
| .et | Ethiopia | Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation | |
| .eu | European Union | EURid | Restricted to institutions, companies, and individuals within the European Union |
| .fi | Finland | FICORA | Registration is available to everyone all around the world |
| .fj | Fiji | The University of the South Pacific IT Services | |
| .fk | Falkland Islands (Malvinas) | Falkland Islands Government | |
| .fm | Federated States of Micronesia | FSM Telecommunications Corporation | |
| .fo | Faroe Islands | FO Council | |
| .fr | France | AFNIC | French presence required |
| .ga | Gabon | Gabon Telecom | |
| .gb | United Kingdom | Unassigned, reserved domain | Originally meant to replace .uk |
| .gd | Grenada | NTRC | |
| .ge | Georgia | Caucasus Online | |
| .gf | French Guiana | Net Plus | |
| .gg | Guernsey | Island Networks | |
| .gh | Ghana | Network Computer Systems | |
| .gi | Gibraltar | Sapphire Networks | |
| .gl | Greenland | TELE Greenland AS | |
| .gm | Gambia | GM-NIC | |
| .gn | Guinea | Centre National des Sciences Halieutiques de Boussoura | |
| .gp | Guadeloupe | Networking Technologies Group | |
| .gq | Equatorial Guinea | GETESA | |
| .gr | Greece | GR-Hostmaster | |
| .gs | South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | GSGSSI | |
| .gt | Guatemala | Universidad del Valle de Guatemala | |
| .gu | Guam | University of Guam Computer Center | |
| .gw | Guinea-Bissau | ARN | |
| .gy | Guyana | University of Guyana | |
| .hk | Hong Kong | Hong Kong Internet Registration Corporation Ltd. | |
| .hm | Heard Island and McDonald Islands | HM Domain Registry | |
| .hn | Honduras | Red de Desarrollo Sostenible Honduras | |
| .hr | Croatia | CARNet | |
| .ht | Haiti | Consortium FDS/RDDH | |
| .hu | Hungary | CHIP | |
| .id | Indonesia | IDNIC-PPAU Mikroelektronika | |
| .ie | Ireland | IE Domain Registry Limited | Limited to Irish citizens, Ireland-registered brands and companies, and companies doing business in Ireland |
| .il | Israel | ISOC-IL (Israeli Branch of ISOC) | |
| .im | Isle of Man | Isle of Man Government | |
| .in | India | NIXI | |
| .io | British Indian Ocean Territory | IO Top Level Domain Registry Cable and Wireless | |
| .iq | Iraq | CMC | |
| .ir | Islamic Republic of Iran | IRNIC | |
| .is | Iceland | ISNIC | |
| .it | Italy | IIT - CNR | Restricted to companies and individuals within the EU |
| .je | Jersey | Island Networks | |
| .jm | Jamaica | University of West Indies | |
| .jo | Jordan | NITC | |
| .jp | Japan | Japan Registry Services | Physical address within Japan required |
| .ke | Kenya | KENIC | |
| .kg | Kyrgyzstan | AsiaInfo Telecommunications Enterprise | |
| .kh | Cambodia | Cambodia Ministry of Post and Telecommunications | |
| .ki | Kiribati | Ministry of Communications, Transport, and Tourism Development | |
| .km | Comoros | Comores Telecom | |
| .kn | Saint Kitts and Nevis | Ministry of Finance, Sustainable Development Information & Technology | |
| .kp | Democratic People's Republic of Korea | Star Joint Venture Company | |
| .kr | Republic of Korea | KISA | |
| .kw | Kuwait | Ministry of Communications | |
| .ky | Caymen Islands | The Information and Communication Authority | Restricted to qualified Cayman entities |
| .kz | Kazakhstan | Association of IT Companies of Kazakhstan | |
| .la | Laos | LANIC | Currently marketed as an unofficial domain for Los Angeles |
| .lb | Lebanon | American University of Beirut Computing and Networking Services | Restricted to companies within Lebanon |
| .lc | Saint Lucia | University of Puerto Rico | |
| .li | Liechtenstein | Universitaet Liechtenstein | |
| .lk | Sri Lanka | Council for Information Technology and LK Domain Registrar | |
| .lr | Liberia | Data Technology Solutions, Inc. | |
| .ls | Lesotho | National University of Lesotho | |
| .lt | Lithuania | Domreg | |
| .lu | Luxembourg | RESTENA | |
| .lv | Latvia | NIC.LV | |
| .ly | Libya | General Post and Telecommunications Company | |
| .ma | Morocco | ANRT | |
| .mc | Monaco | Gouvernement de Monaco Direction des Communications Electroniques | |
| .md | Republic of Moldova | MoldData | Marketed to medical professionals worldwide |
| .me | Montenegro | doMEn | |
| .mf | Saint Martin | Unassigned | Currently not in root zone |
| .mg | Madagascar | NIC-MG | |
| .mh | Marshall Islands | Cabinet Office | |
| .mk | Macedonia | Ministry of Foreign Relations | Restricted to companies within Macedonia |
| .ml | Mali | Sotelma | |
| .mm | Myanmar | Ministry of Communications, Posts & Telegraphs | |
| .mn | Mongolia | Datacom Co., Ltd. | |
| .mo | Macao | University of Macau | |
| .mp | Northern Mariana Islands | Saipan Datacom | |
| .mq | Martinique | SYSTEL | |
| .mr | Mauritania | University of Nouakchott | |
| .ms | Montserrat | MNI Networks Ltd. | |
| .mt | Malta | NIC Malta | |
| .mu | Mauritius | Mauritius Network Information Centre | |
| .mv | Maldives | DHIVEHINET | |
| .mw | Malawi | Malawi SDNP | |
| .mx | Mexico | NIC Mexico | |
| .my | Malaysia | MYNIC | Restricted to individuals and companies within Malaysia |
| .mz | Mozambique | Centro de Informatica de Universidade Eduardo Mondlane | |
| .na | Namibia | Namibian Network Information Centre | |
| .nc | New Caledonia | Office des Postes et Telecommunications | |
| .ne | Niger | SONITEL | |
| .nf | Norfolk Island | Norfolk Island Data Services | |
| .ng | Nigeria | NiRA | |
| .ni | Nicaragua | Universidad Nacional del Ingernieria Centro de Computo | |
| .nl | Netherlands | Stichting Internet Domeinregistratie Nederland (SIDN) | Was the first official ccTLD to be assigned |
| .no | Norway | UNINETT Norid AS | Restricted to companies in Norway. Individuals may register under the SLD .priv.no. |
| .np | Nepal | Mercantile Communications | |
| .nr | Nauru | CENPAC NET | Second level domain .co.nr is used as a free domain service |
| .nu | Niue | Internetstiftelsen i Sverige | Unofficially used as "new" for English language websites and "now" for Danish, Dutch, and Swedish websites. |
| .nz | New Zealand | InternetNZ | |
| .om | Oman | TRA | |
| .pa | Panama | Universidad Tecnologica de Panama | |
| .pe | Peru | Red Cientifica Peruana | |
| .pf | French Polynesia | Ministère des Postes et Télécommunications | |
| .pg | Papua New Guinea | PNG DNS Administration | |
| .ph | Philippines | PH Domain Foundation | |
| .pk | Pakistan | PKNIC | |
| .pl | Poland | NASK | |
| .pm | Saint Pierre and Miquelon | AFNIC | |
| .pn | Pitcairn | Pitcairn Island Administration | |
| .pr | Puerto Rico | Gauss Research Laboratory Inc (GRL-INC) | |
| .ps | Palestine | Palestinian National Internet Naming Authority (PNINA) | |
| .pt | Portugal | DNS.PT | |
| .pw | Palau | Micronesia Investment and Development Corporation | |
| .py | Paraguay | NIC-PY | |
| .qa | Qatar | ictQATAR | |
| .re | Reunion | AFNIC | Restricted to brand owners in Reunion and to companies with an address in Reunion. |
| .ro | Romania | Romanian Research Network | |
| .rs | Serbia | Serbian National Register of Internet Domain Names (RNIDS) | |
| .ru | Russia | Coordination Center for TLD RU | |
| .rw | Rwanda | NIC Congo | |
| .sa | Saudi Arabia | Communications and Information Technology | |
| .sb | Solomon Islands | Solomon Telekom Company | |
| .sc | Seychelles | VCS | |
| .sd | Sudan | Sudan Internet Society | |
| .se | Sweden | Internetstiftelsen i Sverige | |
| .sg | Singapore | SGNIC | |
| .sh | Saint Helena | Government of St. Helena | |
| .si | Slovenia | ARNES | |
| .sj | Svalbard and Jan Mayen | UNINETT Norid AS | Not in use |
| .sk | Slovakia | SK-NIC | Restricted to Slovakian companies, organizations, and citizens |
| .sl | Sierra Leone | Sierratel | |
| .sm | San Marino | Telecom Italia San Marino | Domain name must be same as company name or trademark |
| .sn | Senegal | Universite Cheikh Anta Diop | |
| .so | Somalia | SONIC | Relaunched on Novemner 1, 2010 |
| .sr | Suriname | Telesur | |
| .ss | South Sudan | Unassigned | Currently not in root zone |
| .st | Sao Tome and Principe | Tecnisys | |
| .su | Soviet Union | ROSNIIROS | Being phased out in favor of .ru |
| .sv | El Salvador | SVNet | |
| .sx | Sint Maarten | SX Registry | |
| .sy | Syria | NANS | |
| .sz | Swaziland | SISPA | |
| .tc | Turks and Caicos Islands | MelrexTC | |
| .td | Chad | Sotel Tchad | Restricted to entities connected with Chad |
| .tf | French Southern Territories | AFNIC | |
| .tg | Togo | C.A.F.E. Informatique et Telecommunications | |
| .th | Thailand | THNIC | |
| .tj | Tajikistan | Information Technology Center | |
| .tk | Tokelau | Teletok | Used as a free public domain service |
| .tl | Timor-Leste | Ministry Infrastructure Information and Technology Division | Old code, .tp, still also in use |
| .tm | Turkmenistan | TM Domain Registry | |
| .tn | Tunisia | Tunisia Telecommunications Agency ATI | |
| .to | Tonga | Government of the Kingdom of Tonga | Unofficially used for torrent, Toronto, and Tokyo |
| .tp | Portuguese Timor | Unassigned | Being phased out in favor of .tl |
| .tr | Turkey | NIC.TR | .nc.tr used by Northern Cyprus |
| .tt | Trinidad and Tobago | University of the West Indies Faculty of Engineering | |
| .tv | Tuvalu | Ministry of Finance and Tourism | Used as a abbreviation for television |
| .tw | Taiwan | TWNIC | Registration allowed worldwide |
| .tz | Tanzania | TzNIC | Presence within Tanzania required |
| .ua | Ukraine | Hostmaster LTD | |
| .ug | Uganda | Charles Musisi | |
| .uk | United Kingdom | Nominet | UK service address required |
| .um | United States Minor Outlying Islands | Unassigned | Currently not in root zone |
| .us | United States | NeuStar | Commonly used by US state and local governments instead of .gov |
| .uy | Uruguay | SeCIU | |
| .uz | Uzbekistan | UZINFOCOM | |
| .va | Vatican City | Internet Office of the Holy See | Limited to officials sites of the Vatican/Holy See |
| .vc | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Ministry of Telecommunications, Science, Technology and Industry | |
| .ve | Venezuela | CONATEL | |
| .vg | British Virgin Islands | Pinebrook Developments Ltd. | |
| .vi | US Virgin Islands | NIC.vi | |
| .vn | Vietnam | VNNIC | |
| .vu | Vanuatu | Telecom Vanuatu Ltd. | |
| .wf | Wallis and Futuna | AFNIC | |
| .ws | Samoa | Government of Samoa Ministry of Foreign Affairs | |
| .yt | Mayote | AFNIC | |
| .za | South Africa | ZADNA | |
| .zm | Zambia | ZAMNET | |
| .zw | Zimbabwe | ZISPA | |
References