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Asia's internet domain Print E-mail
Written by Alejandra Davidziuk   
Wednesday, 10 October 2007
DotAsia logoGovernments and companies can now register ".asia" regional internet domain names. DotAsia Organisation Ltd., a non-profit organization, is responsible for operating the .asia top-level domain registry [TLD]. The registration officially opened 9 October with a "Sunrise Period" during which DotAsia will accept priority registrations from registered trademark and service mark holders as well as governments in the region. The general public will have to wait until February 2008 to get a .asia domain.

Until now, the Pan-Asia and Asia Pacific region's internet users have used local domains, with only 11% of these being the generic TLDs, such as .com, .net or .info.

While current gTLDs tend to focus on a vertical group (e.g. commercial entities, network providers, organisations , etc.) within the global internet, “.asia” will embrace a horizontal perspective with a clear brand to reach and enrich the broad global community. Unlike ccTLDs, which provide for a local audience, “.asia” will allow the user to express membership in the larger Asian community (DotAsia Organization website).

According to DotAsia, the domain aspires to embrace the cultural, economic and commercial dynamism that Asia has reached in the last decades to become a nucleus, intersection and breeding ground for internet activity and development in the region.

The Sunrise Period is divided into three phases:

  • Sunrise 1 (SR1) is for Governmental Reserved Names
  • Sunrise 2 (SR2) provides priority for registered trademarks and service marks holders to register their corresponding domains divided into three categories
  • Sunrise 3 (SR3) allows companies in the region to protect and use their name with the .Asia domain.

The SR1 and SR2a periods started on 9 October 2007 and will close on 30 October 2007. The SR2 and SR3 period will commence on 13 November 2007, and close on 15 January 2008.

Read in detail .asia's Registry Policies:

Sunrise Policies
Charter Eligibility Requirement Policy
Reserved Names Policies
Pioneer Domains Program Policies