generic top level domains (gTLDs)

This page looks at the global or generic top level domain (gTLD) spaces: those that are not based on a national code.

     com, net, org

Dot-com, dot-net and dot-org are the three domain spaces with which most people are familiar. They are not restricted to US citizens or entities (for example the owner of a dot-com does not need to be based or legally registered in the US). The cost of registration is significantly lower than that in many national domains (noted on the following page of this profile) and is one reason why the dot-com has become the global 'default' domain.

     int

The dot-int domain is used only for registering organizations established by international treaties between governments. The European Union is urging establishment of a dot-eu domain to cover EU entities.

     US government domains

The dot-gov domain is reserved exclusively for the United States Government. It is operated by the US General Services Administration.

The dot-edu domain is reserved for educational institutions in the United States and is currently restricted to bodies that grant four-year degrees, although some liberalisation has proposed as part of delegation of administration from VeriSign to Educause, a nonprofit body.

The dot-mil domain is exclusively reserved for the United States armed forces. It is operated by the US DoD Network Information Center. There are are equivalent 2LDs in some national domain spaces.

     new gTLDs

ICANN is moving (its critics say moving too slowly) to establish new generic TLDs. The new TLDs are experiments to test demand feasibility for the creation of a range of other domains. As discussed later in this profile, some clash with existing or new alternative domains established by enthusiasts/entrepreneurs and unrecognised by ICANN (and thus not readily accessible from most devices on the net).

The new TLDs include:

dot-museum, for organisations authorised by the International Council of Museums (ICOM)

dot-biz, a domain that parallels dot-com and is expected to be colonized by many of the entities that have dot-com registrations. It is being marketed by NeuLevel

dot-info, an 'unrestricted' space that is likely to attracted directory services, being marketed by Afilias

dot-name, a domain for personal names, being marketed by Global Name Registry (GNR)

dot-pro, aimed at accountants, lawyers, physicians and other professionals

dot-aero, relating to the air transport sector

dot-coop, concerned with cooperatives

    next page  (nations)