ICANN

Bangla Is on ICANN’s Script List. Where Are the Applicants?

ICANN's 2026 new gTLD round attracted no Bangla-script applications, despite supporting 27 scripts. Application data reveals limited South Asian participation and a sharp decline in internationalized domain applications compared with 2012.

DNSSEC in Ghana: 99% Can Validate, But .gh Remains Unsigned

Ghana reports approximately 99% DNSSEC validation capability among measured users, yet its .gh domain remains unsigned, exposing a gap between resolver readiness and domain security that calls for coordinated deployment and operational planning.

Who Still Governs Africa’s Internet Resources?

Cloud Innovation's reappearance in AFRINIC's Mauritian membership register raises questions about governance, judicial oversight and institutional independence. The author calls for transparent records, scrutiny of conflicts of interest and an orderly end to receivership.

Third-Level .name Registrations and Email Forwarding to Be Discontinued in 2027

Verisign plans to discontinue third-level .name registrations and email forwarding in February 2027, prompting objections from longtime users concerned about losing established addresses, disrupting online accounts and potential security risks.

Pakistan’s .PK Is Now DNSSEC-Signed, but Only One Domain Validates

Pakistan's .pk domain has gained DNSSEC protection, but an October 11 scan found just one fully validating domain among 158,561 examined. Another 1,230 signed domains lack the parent-zone records needed to establish trust.

What ICANN’s Contention Sets Reveal About New gTLD Values

ICANN's Reveal Day list holds 263 contention sets. With private deals banned this round, any set that reaches an ICANN auction will end in a public price. The 2012 auctions show why the number of bidders is a weak guide to that price.

ICANN’s New gTLD Round Draws 16 African Applications, 10 Controlled by a Chinese Business Network

A Seychelles company controlled by Lu Heng accounts for 10 of Africa's 16 new gTLD applications, linking ICANN's domain expansion to commercial interests and an ongoing dispute over AFRINIC's governance and IPv4 resources.

The Fight for a String: Understanding ICANN’s Objection Process in the 2026 New gTLD Application Round

ICANN's 2026 new gTLD objection process presents applicants and rights holders with four distinct mechanisms for challenging proposed strings, each carrying different legal standards, evidentiary requirements and consequences for delegation.

The TLD Fight Is On: 1,615 Applications, and One Question Nobody Is Asking

ICANN's 2026 new gTLD round attracted 1,615 applications, with competition concentrated on contested extensions. Strong registration growth contrasts with weak renewal rates, raising questions about long-term demand and commercial viability.

From Apps to Agents: How the 2026 New gTLD Strings Mirror a Changed Internet

ICANN's 2026 new gTLD applications reveal a shift toward AI agents, developer infrastructure and digital trust, with .agent replacing .app as the most contested string amid growing competition and persistent geographic disparities.