Corporate domain name management - eBrand Services

Internationalised Domain Names Becoming More Prevalent Around the World

Internationalised Domain Names (IDNs) are becoming more prevalent as ICANN approves more IDN country code Top Level Domains (ccTLDs). The IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process enables countries and territories that use languages based on scripts other than Latin to offer users domain names in their native language.

Prior to their introduction, internet users whose language was not a Latin-based script were required to switch between their native language and what in effect was the English language, and even the direction of typing, when typing in an email or web address.

With this impediment to internet use, many countries and territories had expressed a pressing need for IDN ccTLDs, in particular from regions where the IDNs at the second level are not useful due to the need to swift typing direction and script. The IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process is specifically aimed at meeting this near-term demand.

An application under the IDN ccTLD Fast Track Programme requires participants to demonstrate that they fulfil a number of requirements:

• the script used to represent the IDN ccTLDs must be non-Latin
• the languages used to express the IDN ccTLDs must be official in the corresponding country or territory
• a specific set of technical requirements must be met (as evaluated by an external DNS Stability Panel comprised of DNS and IDN experts).

If a potential applicant can fulfil these requirements they can they apply for an IDN. Following the application to ICANN, ICANN then evaluates the string in accordance with the relevant criteria, and if it is successful, delegates the string.

The introduction of IDNs is expected to increase awareness of domain names and the number of internet users in the countries where they are introduced. For internet users who are not familiar with Latin-based characters, it is expected they will better understand domain names. With this familiarity, there should be a decrease in online crimes such as phishing as internet users will better understand the web addresses they will be visiting.

Their introduction has been warmly welcomed by ICANN’s CEO and President Rod Beckstrom who spoke has spoken enthusiastically about IDNs, while also noting that the support for IDNs at events he has attended in countries such as Egypt and Russia had been fantastic.

To date ICANN has approved 21 requests representing six languages. The IDNs approved have been:

* the first characters how the string will appear in an internet browser that is not enabled to recognise IDNs

More information on the Internationalised Domain Names and the Fast Track Process is available from icann.org/en/topics/idn.