The New generic Top-Level Domain Program
What are gTLDs?
On the Internet, every website has an address, known as the domain name. The name is split into parts, including the name and a suffix at the end. The suffix – such as .com, or .edu – is called a top-level domain (TLD). There are two types of TLDs: generic (gTLD), such as .com, .net and .org, and country code TLDs (ccTLDs), designating countries and territories, such as .ca and .uk.
Every address is also expressed in numerical sequences, called Internet Protocol (IP) numbers. The Domain Name System (DNS), which translates names into numbers, is managed by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), whose main role is to coordinate the global Internet’s systems of unique identifiers.
Top-level domains (TLDs) are at the top of the Domain Name System (DNS), which is managed by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). Domain names allow us to find a given location in the Internet. There are two types of TLDs: generic TLDs (gTLDs), such as .com, .net and .org, and country code TLDs (ccTLDs), designating countries and territories. For many years, the number of gTLDs was limited to 22. In 2012, ICANN launched the New generic Top-Level Domain Program, opening up the DNS beyond this number. Under the new programme, any organisation could apply for a new gTLDs, as long as it complied with a series of criteria established by ICANN.
Since then, the DNS expanded to more than 1000 gTLDs. Currently, the programme is under continuous review, and there are also discussions on the possibility of launching new gTLD rounds.