Since 16th Nov 09 Applications Processing for IDN ccTLDs Fast Track has been started. The countries and territories who are using non-English Language (nationwide) for official documentation or for community, are eligible to apply for a new country code top level domain name (ccTLD) in their own Native Language through a designated manager. Designated Manager has to submit online application to M/s ICANN for the new name script. Name Script should be meaningful, minimum 2 letter and maximum 63 letters long.

Native Language Community will be able to register their domain names within the next 6 months.

In first round, maximum 50 IDN ccTLDs Applications are expected. However, Designated Manager has to decide the Name Script minimum characters which can serve the purpose. for example مصر، امارات، السعودیۃ do not have any short abbreviation to represent the name of their country. However like Pakistan, it has پاک. (.PAK) instead of using full name پاکستان. abbreviation may reduce the losses of about 1000 men hours daily.

By Imran Ahmed Shah, IT Consultant

Related topics: Domain Names, Registry Services, ICANN, Internet Governance, Multilinguism, Top-Level Domains