Arabic language top level domain is first to sign contract with ICANN.
In a major milestone for ICANN’s new top level domain program, the first agreement between ICANN and an applicant to run a new TLD has been signed.
dotShabaka Registry inked the deal for شبكة, which had a priority number of three in ICANN’s prioritization system.
The Arabic language domain name roughly translates to “web” or “network” in English. Arabic speakers will be able to access web sites using the top level domain without the need to enter Latin characters.
Domain name registrar GoDaddy has already signed on to carry the top level domain when it goes live.
dotShabaka Registry still needs to pass a couple technical hurdles to get the domain name online, not to mention waiting for ICANN to finish up a few key milestones necessary before any domains in the new TLD program are actually accessible to internet users.
How does that play speculatively? Could you purchase the English translation? Could you purchase at all?