About the industry
The Domain Name System (DNS)
In this section, we will provide additional context and background information on the critical infrastructure, systems and organisations that help sustain a healthy, democratic and diverse DNS community that is central to the functioning of the internet.
The domain name system (DNS) is mostly known for associating names with IP addresses, as humans can more easily remember names than numbers. Also software and hardware on the internet name things, including web browsers, e-mail applications, gaming consoles or video streaming devices. The DNS is flexible and not linked to a device or location, i.e. a domain name stays the same even though the underlying IP address might change. The DNS has a lot of built-in redundancy to ensure reliability: if a server is not reachable, it can rely on multiple others that store the same data.
For applications to work and/or communicate with each other via internet protocols, domain names need to be translated into IP addresses. This process is set off by a query, i.e. when you want to send an e-mail or wish to access a website.
The following video explains it a bit more in detail:
Understanding the role of ccTLD registries
What role do ccTLD registry operators play?
Country code top-level domain (ccTLD) registry operators (also known as registries) are responsible for managing or administering a country-specific top-level domain such as .si or .eu. They are like a database for all the domains in their TLD.
Among their key responsibilities, registry operators provide name resolution services (connecting domain names with their associated IP addresses) and maintain the critical infrastructure needed to complete DNS queries.
Registry operators also provide registration services to registrars, which can include creating or cancelling domain names, updating a name server and more.
A ccTLD registry also manages what is known as the “zone file” for its specific geography. This zone file holds all the domain names along with contact information for each registrant. Information about the registrant as well as contacts for technical and administrative issues related to a domain name can be queried via the WHOIS, a directory service maintained by the registry. The Whois tool is an important query and response protocol within the DNS system. The Whois allows a user to perform a search on a given domain (or IP address) and retrieve various information about its registration.
How do ccTLD registries operate?
No two ccTLDs are quite the same. Within Europe, ccTLD registry operators can vary widely in terms of their ownership, size, business model and their relationship with local governments. Most ccTLD registries, however, function as not-for-profit foundations, cooperatives and research institutions.
Most of a ccTLD registry’s funding comes from the proceeds of domain registrations. These proceeds are then reinvested into the ccTLD’s day-to-day operations and infrastructure, as well as educational programs, advertising and research initiatives.
From a personnel perspective, ccTLD registries can be staffed by as many as 100, or as few as one person.
Who governs or oversees ccTLD registries?
For the most part, ccTLD registries are governed by the national laws of their country – much like any other business. In addition to this, EU policies – such as cybersecurity, data protection/privacy and consumer protection – can impact a ccTLD’s daily operations.
ccTLD registries set their own terms and conditions for things like the length of a registration period, domain name pricing, prohibited domain names and – in some cases – local presence requirements.
Some ccTLD registries have even moved towards offering new and expanded services – outside of domain registrations – including security monitoring and analysis, data management, anycast – and more.
Do ccTLD registries play a role in regulating or “policing” online content?
ccTLD registries are facing increased pressure from regulators to help in the fight against illegal online content.
However, these registries have always operated on a purely technical level within the internet’s infrastructure. In other words, they help us navigate the internet smoothly, but they never directly host or interact with web content. But is there more “direct” action that could – or should – be taken?
This video provides a summary of ccTLD registries and their technical role in relation to online content. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVwKDq-qUwY
The domain registration process
Registering a domain is an essential part of establishing an online presence. But how exactly do you register a domain? This article explores the domain registration process, providing an insight into all the actors who are involved, as well as a summary of what happens in the background once you have selected your domain name.
IDNs and how they allow for broader representation
The internet is for everyone and, indeed, should be accessible by all. Internationalised Domain Names (IDNs) enable people around the world to see domain names in their native languages and scripts, such as Arabic, Chinese and Cyrillic. Even Latin alphabet characters with accents and diacritical marks, (such as French) can be represented. The first IDN TLDs, that were implemented in 2010, were country code top-level domains (ccTLDs).
لسعودية., مصر. and امارات. (Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates), as well as .рф (Russia) were successfully implemented, and were followed soon after by .中国 and .中國 (China), .香港 (Hong Kong), and .台灣 and .台湾 (Taiwan).
To date, more than 70 IDN ccTLDs have been delegated worldwide, representing 79% of ccTLDs, and more than two million IDNs have been registered under ccTLDs.
New gTLDs
What are new gTLDs?
There are two main categories of Top Level Domains: country code top level domains (e.g. .be, .fr, .es) and generic top level domains (e.g. .com, .info, .net).
In order to improve competition and consumer choice, ICANN has decided in 2011 to open up the gTLD space. The additional top level domains are called "new gTLDs".
Small scale additions to the namespace have been made since 2000. In contrast, ICANN now decided to authorise any new gTLD which meets the published criteria. The window for applications closed at the end of April 2012.
The complete list of TLDs available in the root zone database is available on the IANA website.
IPv6
What is IPv6?
News articles, presentations, and government documents, are all making an urgent appeal to adapt the Internet so as to cope with its growth. “The Internet is running out of IP addresses and if no immediate action is taken now, further growth will be impossible”, they claim.
This alarming message must be taken seriously. But, there is no need to panic, the Internet is not at risk and will not stop working. There is no bug or threat that has to be fixed; however, changes are needed to guarantee the continuous steep growth of the global network.
The current and much widely used version of the Internet Protocol IPv4 needs to be replaced by the IPv6 protocol. IPv6 addresses are longer so that more unique combinations can be made. An IPv6 address is represented by 8 groups of hexadecimal values separated by colons. A typical example of an IPv6 address is 2a02:d08:1001:108:1880:9309:7197:1.
ICANN/IANA
What is ICANN?
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is a California based, not-for-profit organization that brings together individuals, industry, non-commercial and government representatives to discuss, debate and develop policies about the technical coordination of the internet’s domain name system. While ICANN’s scope is limited, its importance cannot be overestimated. While policies developed at ICANN affect mainly generic Top Level Domains (gTLDs), some that are of a technical coordinating nature have an impact on country code Top Level Domains (ccTLDs). A perfect example of the latter is the framework described by ICANN that sets out the rules for the operation of internationalised domain names (such as top level domain names in Cyrillic and Greek). In addition to its policy role for technical coordination of the internet’s domain name system, ICANN is also the home of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). More information can be found at https://www.icann.org
What is IANA?
The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority is the organisation responsible for maintaining the registries of the internet’s unique identifiers. These consist of three categories: the root zone management for domain names, maintaining the registries with protocol parameters and internet numbers (such as IP addresses and autonomous system numbers). Until now, the US department of commerce, more in particular the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), oversees the IANA operations based on a contract with ICANN. In March 2014, the NTIA announced that it intends to transition this stewardship to the global internet community. Since then, the IETF, IAB, RIRs and the stakeholders in the domain name industry have worked hard on a proposal that meets the criteria the NTIA had put in place. This process is known as the IANA stewardship transition process. More information can be found at https://www.iana.org.