DStv, MTN may get own Internet domains

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has revealed the latest proposed new names for online neighborhoods, which include .africa, .dstv, .durban, .capetown and .joburg.

ICANN developed the new generic top-level domain (gTLD) program to increase competition and choice by introducing new gTLDs into the Internet’s addressing system.

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

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

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

• .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)

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.

Silber said that the first approvals are likely in the first half of 2013.

Bill Clinton grabbing the opportunity for a photo with ICANN director Mike Silber

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