African New Domain Applications – DStv Tops List

Internet users have grown accustomed to .com, .net, or .org domains, but this list is set to grow substantially with the new gTLDs.

According to ICANN “There are currently 280 ccTLDs but only 22 “generics” in the domain name system right now, but that is all about to change,” .

The new gTLD application window opened on 12 January 2012 and closed on 30 May 2012. This list displays all of the gTLD strings that were applied for during this round.

Here are some of the prominent generic top-level domain applications for Africa.

• .africa (applicant: UniForum SA (NPC) trading as Registry.Africa)
• .dstv (applicant: MultiChoice Africa (Proprietary) Limited)
• .durban (applicant: UniForum SA (NPC) trading as ZA Central Registry)
• .capetown (applicant: UniForum SA (NPC) trading as ZA Central Registry)
• .joburg (applicant: UniForum SA (NPC) trading as ZA Central Registry)
• .mtn (applicant: MTN Dubai Limited)
• .multichoice (applicant: MultiChoice Africa (Proprietary) Limited)
• .mnet (applicant: Electronic Media Network Limited (M-Net))
• .africamagic (applicant: Electronic Media Network Limited (M-Net))
• .gotv (applicant: MultiChoice Africa (Proprietary) Limited)
• .kyknet (applicant: Electronic Media Network Limited (M-Net))
• .naspers (applicant: Intelprop (Proprietary) Limited)
• .supersport (applicant: SuperSport International Holdings Limited)

There have been 40 such applications from the UK, 303 from the Asia-Pacific region and 17 from Africa. Take a look at the international breakdown below as reported by BBC:

1. North America: 911 applications
2. Europe: 675 applications
3. Asia-Pacific: 303 applications
4. Latin American and the Caribbean: 24 applications
5. Africa: 17 applications
6. (116 in non-Latin alphabets)

ICANN director Mike Silber said that the approval process will be done in batches, and that there will be no more than 1,000 approvals in any 12 months. According to Silber, the first approvals are likely in the first half of 2013.