CO.ZA – South Africa’s top digital identifier celebrates 30 years
The ZA Registry Consortium (ZARC) is a leader in the domain name sector and the Registry Operator for four .ZA commercial second-level domains— CO.ZA, ORG.ZA, NET.ZA, and WEB.ZA.
In 2024, it proudly marks 30 years of service and, by extension, the 30-year anniversary of the CO.ZA digital identifier.
Over these three decades, CO.ZA has evolved through various institutional changes from UniForum SA, to ZACR, and now ZARC – all without disrupting the service that has become the backbone of South Africa’s digital identity.
The visionaries behind CO.ZA
UniForum SA initially took over from Mike Lawrie in the early 1990s, assuming the task would require minimal resources with only approximately 400 names to manage.
However, CO.ZA rapidly grew to become the largest and most influential namespace in South Africa (and Africa), with close to 1.4 million domain names currently under ZARC’s management.
This growth mirrors the broader expansion of the Internet and the digital economy in South Africa since 1994.
CO.ZA has become a significant part of the country’s democratic heritage and culture, making its 30-year celebration particularly poignant.
The early adopters
CO.ZA was introduced in the early 1990s during the nascent stages of the Internet’s commercial use and adoption in South Africa.
Despite low Internet penetration and limited global infrastructure, over 211 early adopters – representing a broad spectrum of industries – recognised the true potential of CO.ZA.
Today ZARC celebrates and acknowledges those 211 early pioneers, who all turn 30 this year.
The fact that so many active and influential domains have been around for 30 years is testament to the longevity and stability of the CO.ZA namespace.
These statistics reflect the trust and value South African businesses and individuals have placed in this critical namespace over three decades.
The growth era
The 2000s marked a significant uptake in CO.ZA domain adoption, driven by expanding Internet access and the affordability of computers and services.
Businesses across sectors established their online presence with CO.ZA domains, enhancing their marketing and communication strategies.
Government initiatives promoting digital literacy and infrastructure further boosted CO.ZA adoption.
By the early 2000s, domain registrations had grown to over 130,000.
The Electronic Communications Act No.25 of 2002 then introduced a domain name management framework based on the “RRR Model” (Regulator, Registry Operator, Registrar).
This model promoted role segregation, fairness, and operational efficiency.
Digital transformation
Several interventions ensured the integrity and trust of the CO.ZA namespace.
UniForum SA transformed into the ZA Central Registry (ZACR) NPC, which would go on to implement domain name systems and procedures in accordance with international standards and policies.
This transition, endorsed by the late Minister of Communications, Dr Matsepe-Cassaburi, was realised through the efforts of the ZADNA and UniForum SA boards.
By 2010, there were close to 600,000 CO.ZA names already registered.
Then, to modernise the administration of domain names in South Africa, an EPP-based (Extensible Provisioning Protocol) system was developed and introduced.
This homegrown solution automated and streamlined the domain name registration and management processes, enhanced security, and ensured compliance with international standards, ultimately improving customer experience.
In the decade following 2010, we have seen tremendous growth in the SLD namespaces, increasing to nearly 1.3 million names.
Reflections and future outlook
“We have no doubt that these interventions, and many others, were all instrumental in CO.ZA’s growth and success. We are incredibly proud to reach this milestone of 30 years managing our flagship CO.ZA namespace,” said ZARC executive Lucky Masilela.
“It’s a testament to the early Internet pioneers, our team’s dedication, the trust of our customers, and the support of our partners. As we look forward to the next 30 years, we remain committed to innovation and excellence.”
Fellow ZARC executive Neil Dundas added: “What a journey the past 30 years has been. We celebrate this milestone with immense gratitude to our registrar community and the other stakeholders who have contributed to CO.ZA’s success.”
This timeline highlights the transition from UniForum SA to ZACR and now ZARC over 30 years:
CO.ZA’s evolution is one of modest beginnings and incredible growth.
As technology and user needs evolve, CO.ZA domains will continue to be integral to South Africa’s online identity and economic growth.
ZARC remains committed to managing Mzansi’s number one digital identifier with integrity and trust.
For more information about ZA Registry Consortium, click here.
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