Are you a Registry Service provider?

To ensure you have the proper qualifications to be a Registry Provider, The ICANN created the RSP Evaluation Program. It is closing in 20 May 2025.

Extracted from the article: "All New gTLD Program: Next Round applicants must use RSPs that have been successfully evaluated through the RSP Evaluation Program. The RSP may be the same entity as the prospective applicant, or the gTLD may outsource services to a third-party".

Learn more here.

Reminder : ICANN seeks qualified vendors

ICANN New gTLD Program: Next Round Sourcing Timeline

June 2025 (RFI) : String Similarity & Variant Justification

Description: Conduct algorithmic and linguistic evaluations of applied-for gTLDs, identifying similarities that could cause user confusion and ensuring unique and distinguishable strings.

Q3 2025 (RFQ) : Background Screening

Description: Conduct comprehensive due diligence on applicants, ensuring compliance with eligibility criteria, including criminal history checks and business due diligence.

Learn more here.

Latest ICANN Board Workshop at ICANN82

Extracted from the article : "New gTLD Program: Next Round: The Board reviewed the implementation status of the next round, including the development of the gTLD application processing project, progress on the new Base Registry Agreement, the approval process for vendor contracts, and upcoming milestones for the Applicant Guidebook".

Learn more: https://www.icann.org/en/blogs/details/recap-of-the-march-board-workshop-and-icann82-07-04-2025-en

New gTLDs in Domain Reputation Update Oct 2024 - Mar 2025

This is a report from Spamhaus with a focus on Domain Reputation. Since we focus on new gTLDs "only", there a re a few things in this report that caught my attention:

• Slide three : .TOP continues to be plagued by abuse.
• Slide four on .XIN new gTLD : this TLD also appears later in the report in relation to abuse where cybercriminals are using hyphenated domains.
• Slide 6 : some TLDs are typically known for being low cost, with some promotions offering domains for as little as $1.
• Slide 7 : the Top 20 TLDs used in new domains.
• Slide 8 : The Top 20 gTLDs by % of zone file that are new domains.
• Slide 10 : Trending terms in new domains.
• Slide 12 : Eight out of the top 20 gTLDs by percentage of zone file belong to one registry:
• .town
• .pizza
• .pictures
• .loans
• .academy
• .plus
• .gold
• .legal

Read the 22 pages report here.

From the .BEST to web.Best

Building on the .BEST Top-Level Domain foundation, the team embarked on developing the Best mobile application, which became the cornerstone of web.Best for capturing likes on short-form videos.

Today, web.Best is designed to enhance attraction, engagement and conversion on your own website.

Learn more here.

The .MIT new gTLD : 10 years after

The famous Massachusetts Institute of Technology just renewed its contract with the ICANN : it's been 10 years ! One of the most prestigious university in the world has yet not found a use for its own domain names and has created two after ten years of existence. I found one of them and it is this one : https://nic.mit/.

Just in "ICANN taxes", it cost the MIT $25.000 a year (plus "the rest").

Check the renewal notice here.

Event : Opportunities in the Next Evolution of the DNS

For the first time in more than a decade, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is preparing to launch the application window for the Next Round of generic top-level domains (gTLDs).

On April 9, 2025 at Civic Hall, join ICANN for a discussion on the opportunities for nonprofits and businesses to create their own exclusive, descriptive, and memorable label on the Internet through the operation of a gTLD.

Register now.

Round 2 of new gTLDs : need to check the numbers?

It is difficult to estimate the potential of a niche new gTLD project but "comparing" with existing extensions from the first Round of new gTLDs is an excellent approach.

Check the numbers !

New gTLD reports are monthly domain name registration volumes' captures according to specific groups, businesses or industries. On the last day of each month, we take a snapshot of these numbers so one can see if they increase or decrease for a month to the other.

Check the monthly reports here (next report to be published will be March 2025).