What does this mean for your business?

Previously the Domain Name System was defined by only 22 net address extensions or generic top-level domain names (“gTLDs”), including the most popular ‘.com', ‘.net' and ‘.org)' and approximately 250 country code top level domains (such as ‘.ae' or ‘.qa'). 

A dramatic expansion of gTLDs is currently taking place. Since late October 2013, over 175 new ‘strings' have been delegated by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (“ICANN”), the non-profit organisation responsible for the global management of the domain name system. More than 1,000 new gTLDs are expected to be added in the next year or so. ICANN's new gTLD program is intended to increase competition and choice in the domain name space.

Generally the new domain name extensions fall into the following categories:

• Brands (‘.mango' and ‘.axa' have been delegated and applications for the likes of ‘.ford', ‘.apple', ‘.samsung' and ‘.etisalat' have passed their initial ICANN evaluations)

• Communities (‘.democrat', ‘.actor')

• Geographic (‘.london', ‘.tokyo', ‘.berlin' have been delegated; ‘.abudhabi' and ‘.dubai' are coming)

• Generic (‘.events', ‘.rentals', ‘.expert', ‘.flights', ‘.cool').