Changes

'''The Middle East and Adjoining Countries (MEAC) DNS Study 2015''' analyzes the MEAC region's domain name industry and registration data as it relates to the larger global internet environment. MEAC contains a structured survey of ccTLD registries in the region, supplemented with interviews with registries and registrars, and also offers suggested actions to stimulate wider uptake in the region.<ref name="study">[https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/eurid-middle-east-dns-study-initial-13oct15-en.pdf MEAC DNS Study], ICANN.org. Published 2015 October 13. Retrieved 2015 November 6.</ref>

'''The Middle East and Adjoining Countries (MEAC) DNS Study 2015''' analyzes the MEAC region's domain name industry and registration data as it relates to the larger global internet environment. MEAC contains a structured survey of ccTLD registries in the region, supplemented with interviews with registries and registrars, and also offers suggested actions to stimulate wider uptake in the region.<ref name="study">[https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/eurid-middle-east-dns-study-initial-13oct15-en.pdf MEAC DNS Study], ICANN.org. Published 2015 October 13. Retrieved 2015 November 6.</ref>

The recommendation to conduct this study was one of the outcomes of the [[Middle East Engagement Strategy]], which was developed by a group of community members in the region, and defined three strategic focus areas for the region. One of those focus areas, which was to develop the region's domain name industry, is covered by this study.<ref name="icann">[https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2-2015-03-16-en Request for Proposal: DNS Study for the Middle East and Adjoining Countries], ICANN.org. Retrieved 2015 November 6.</ref>

The recommendation to conduct this study was one of the outcomes of the [[Middle East Engagement Strategy]], which was developed by a group of community members in the region, and defined three strategic focus areas for the region. One of those focus areas, which was to develop the region's domain name industry, is covered by this study.<ref name="icann">[https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2-2015-03-16-en Request for Proposal: DNS Study for the Middle East and Adjoining Countries], ICANN.org. Retrieved 2015 November 6.</ref><ref name="icann2">[https://www.icann.org/news/blog/the-middle-east-strategy-two-years-later The Middle East Strategy: Two Years Later], ICANN.org. Published 2015 July 7. Retrieved 2015 November 17.</ref>

[[ICANN]] first called for proposals for the study in March 2015, and requested that reports be submitted no later than October 9th.<ref name="icann"></ref> In June 2015, the [[.eu]] [[registry]], [[EURid]], was selected by [[ICANN]] to conduct the study.<ref name="eurid">[https://www.eurid.eu/en/news/jun-2015/eurid-selected-icann-develop-dns-study-middle-east-and-adjoining-countries EURid selected by ICANN to develop DNS study in the Middle East and adjoining countries], EURid.org. Published 2015 June 15. Retrieved 2015 November 6.</ref>

[[ICANN]] first called for proposals for the study in March 2015, and requested that reports be submitted no later than October 9th.<ref name="icann"></ref> In June 2015, the [[.eu]] [[registry]], [[EURid]], was selected by [[ICANN]] to conduct the study.<ref name="eurid">[https://www.eurid.eu/en/news/jun-2015/eurid-selected-icann-develop-dns-study-middle-east-and-adjoining-countries EURid selected by ICANN to develop DNS study in the Middle East and adjoining countries], EURid.org. Published 2015 June 15. Retrieved 2015 November 6.</ref>

* Across the region as a whole, 31% of users spend 3 hours or fewer per day online, but in some countries, people said they are online for more than 10 hours per day. Pakistan had the lowest median hours per day at 3 hours; Qatar and UAE had the highest, at 10 hours.

* Across the region as a whole, 31% of users spend 3 hours or fewer per day online, but in some countries, people said they are online for more than 10 hours per day. Pakistan had the lowest median hours per day at 3 hours; Qatar and UAE had the highest, at 10 hours.

* Users have a strong preference for websites using local languages such as Arabic, Farsi, and Urdu when interacting with friends and government online, but English dominates the language of web content, with 71% of sites associated with the region (compared to 55% of global sites). They also prefer to purchase from local registrars over foreign ones.<ref name="study"></ref>

* Users have a strong preference for websites using local languages such as Arabic, Farsi, and Urdu when interacting with friends and government online, but English dominates the language of web content, with 71% of sites associated with the region (compared to 55% of global sites). They also prefer to purchase from local registrars over foreign ones.<ref name="study"></ref>

* Social media is on the uptake in the region, perhaps because difficulties in domain name registration make social media a faster channel to get online. According to the 2014 Arab Social Media Report, there are 81 million Facebook users and 6 million Twitter users in the Arab world, and use of social media is growing rapidly.<ref name="arabsocialmedia">[http://www.mbrsg.ae/HOME/PUBLICATIONS/Research-Report-Research-Paper-White-Paper/Citizen-Engagement-and-Public-Services-in-the-Arab.aspx The Arab Social Media Report- Edition #6], MBRSG.ae. Published 2014 June. Retrieved 2015 November 7.</ref>

* Social media is on the uptake in the region, perhaps because difficulties in domain name registration make social media a faster channel to get online. According to the 2014 [[Arab Social Media Report]], there are 81 million Facebook users and 6 million Twitter users in the Arab world, and use of social media is growing rapidly.<ref name="arabsocialmedia">[http://www.mbrsg.ae/HOME/PUBLICATIONS/Research-Report-Research-Paper-White-Paper/Citizen-Engagement-and-Public-Services-in-the-Arab.aspx The Arab Social Media Report- Edition #6], MBRSG.ae. Published 2014 June. Retrieved 2015 November 7.</ref>

* The average annual percentage growth rate is higher than that experienced in the rest of the world, where growth rates are tending to flatten. The number of domains per 1,000 of population (ie: 9.6 domains per in Iran and 3 per in Tunisia) indicates that the region has low domain name penetration compared with other countries. The high percentage growth could be sign of a healthy market with potential growth to come, or low numbers could merely result in a large percentage of growth.

* The average annual percentage growth rate is higher than that experienced in the rest of the world, where growth rates are tending to flatten. The number of domains per 1,000 of population (ie: 9.6 domains per in Iran and 3 per in Tunisia) indicates that the region has low domain name penetration compared with other countries. The high percentage growth could be sign of a healthy market with potential growth to come, or low numbers could merely result in a large percentage of growth.

* 63% of users surveyed tended to use the Internet for social reasons, rather than for business reasons, which only accounted for 37% of those polled.<ref name="study"></ref>

* 63% of users surveyed tended to use the Internet for social reasons, rather than for business reasons, which only accounted for 37% of those polled.<ref name="study"></ref>

==Recommendations==

==Recommendations==

* Basic internet access issues need to be given priority. Local hosting markets must be strengthened.

* Policies and investment should focus on supporting eCommerce and local language content.

* Basic internet access issues need to be given priority.

* Local TLD operators should liberalize policies, by making them more accessible, lowering fees, and making policies more transparent.<ref name="study"></ref>

* Local hosting markets must be strengthened. [[ISOC]]'s [[Local Content Report]] dictates that there is a strong correlation between the development of network infrastructure and the growth of local content.<ref name="oecd">[http://www.oecd.org/internet/ieconomy/50305352.pdf The Relationship Between Local Content, Internet Development, and Access Prices], OECD.org.</ref>

* Standarizing technical and operational systems will reduce coasts and encourage international registrars to support the region, which is essential to long-term growth.

* Enhancing local language content will benefit the 50% of users who prefer to use local languages online.

* Policies and investment should focus on supporting eCommerce.

 

* Local TLD operators should liberalize policies, by making them more accessible, lowering fees, and making policies more transparent.

* Standardizing technical and operational systems will reduce costs and encourage international registrars to support the region, which is essential to long-term growth. Developed local Internet markets tend to report lower international prices for bandwidth and vice versa: markets with more intense international Internet traffic tend to report lower local prices for Internet access.<ref name="oecd"></ref>

* International registrars can intensify local competition by lowering retail prices and improving uptake.

* International registrars can intensify local competition by lowering retail prices and improving uptake.

* [[ccTLD]]s in the region should consider starter programmes and incentives to on-board new registrars at local level.

* [[ccTLD]]s in the region should consider starter programs and incentives to on-board new registrars at local level.

* Registries may also consider bundling domain names with add-on products such as forwarding services and services that assist customers in building websites.<ref name="study"></ref>

* Registries may also consider bundling domain names with add-on products such as forwarding services and services that assist customers in building websites.<ref name="study"></ref>

* Setting regional benchmarks for TLD development, following the model of worldwide [[ccTLD]]s such as [[EURid]], could be very helpful. Positive case studies include [[.no]] and [[.eu]].<ref name="study"></ref>

* Setting regional benchmarks for TLD development, following the model of worldwide [[ccTLD]]s such as [[EURid]], could be very helpful. Positive case studies include [[.no]] and [[.eu]].

==Domain Name Industry & Usage==

==Domain Name Industry & Usage==

* The study measured the content of 1.1 million sites associated with the region; it found that 300,000 were hosted outside the region and 830,000 were hosted in the region.

* The study measured the content of 1.1 million sites associated with the region; it found that 300,000 were hosted outside the region and 830,000 were hosted in the region.

<br />

<br />

'''Full Sites vs. Parked Sites in MEAC and Beyond'''<ref name="study"></ref>

'''Full Sites vs. Parked Sites in MEAC and Beyond'''<ref name="study"></ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"

{| class="wikitable sortable"

|-

|-

|}

|}

 

'''Comparative TLD Pricings in Africa, Europe, and MEAC Regions'''<br />

'''Comparative TLD Pricings in Africa, Europe, and MEAC Regions'''<br />

Some registries charge what [[Janelle McAlister]] of [[MarkMonitor]] calls "unreasonable" prices, sometimes well over $100 USD and as high as $200 USD -- even if most were in the range of $35 to $55 USD. The images below capture sample pricings as of September 2015.<ref name="study"></ref>

Some registries charge what [[Janelle McAlister]] of [[MarkMonitor]] calls "unreasonable" prices, sometimes well over $100 USD and as high as $200 USD -- even if most were in the range of $35 to $55 USD. The images below capture sample pricings as of September 2015.<ref name="study"></ref>

<gallery widths="350px" heights="200px">

<gallery widths="350px" heights="200px">

Image:africa-tld-pricing.png|'''TLD Pricing in Africa Region'''

Image:africa-tld-pricing.png|'''Africa Region'''

Image:europe-tld-pricing.png|'''TLD Pricing in Europe Region'''

Image:europe-tld-pricing.png|'''Europe Region'''

Image:meac-tld-pricing.png|'''TLD Pricing in MEAC Region'''

Image:meac-tld-pricing.png|'''MEAC Region'''

</gallery>

</gallery>

|-

|-

| 66-89%

| 66-89%

| Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Tunisia, Turkey

| Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Tunisia, Iran

|-

|-

| 90% + (high ranking)

| 90% + (high ranking)