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THE Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), a non-governmental organisation, says it has launched an Applicant Support Programme (ASP) to empower underrepresented communities in the domain industry.
The Vice President of ICANN in Africa, Pierre Dandjinou, said this in a statement on Wednesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that domain is an application layer protocol and service used on networks to translate host names to their associated IP addresses.
According to Dandjinou, ASP is part of the new Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLD) Programme, which introduces new gTLDs to the internet’s domain name space.
“Top-Level Domains (TLD) are the part of an internet address that comes after the dot. For example, in the domain name icann.org, the characters ‘org’ identify the TLD and help to classify the purpose of the domain name.
“The Internet started with just a handful of TLDs, such as .com, .net., .org and others.
“As it has evolved, the number of generic TLDs in the Domain Name System (DNS) has increased to reflect the multidimensionality of its billions of users and to help classify and communicate the purpose of a domain name,” Dandjinou said.
He noted that the programme was aimed at making the application of new gTLD more accessible to entities facing financial and resource constraints.
Dandjinou added that the new gTLD programme would give businesses, communities, and others the opportunity to apply for new top-level domains tailored to their needs.
“The ASP supports ICANN’s commitment to innovation, competition, and consumer choice in the domain industry,” Dandjinou said.
He noted that eligible applicants would receive access to pro bono service providers, training, and other resources, as well as a 75 to 85 per cent reduction in gTLD evaluation fees.
“To qualify, applicants must meet financial need and viability criteria and fall into categories such as nonprofits, indigenous peoples’ organisations, or small businesses from less-developed economies,” Dandjinou said.
He added that the application window was open for 12 months, and applicants are encouraged to apply early. (NAN)
20th November, 2024.
C.E
Tags: ICANN Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers
