Africa's top-level domains stymied by manual operations

Alfredo · 04-20-2009, 11:47 AM

Low Internet penetration, poor marketing strategies and manual operations of registries have hampered the growth of Africa's top level domains.

Automation is critical; most African domain registries are operated manually and take a long time before the domain can be approved while .com address take minutes to purchase, said Ndukwe Kalu, president of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association.

"There are several registrars in Africa selling foreign domains because it makes business sense. The local domain may be free but it does not make a business case to commit several hours just for one domain," Kalu said.

Some of the registries in the continent like .ke for Kenya are semi-automated; it lacks the user interface that allows the user to purchase the domain online. The user is forced to fill in forms, forward to a registrar, then wait for confirmation whether the domain is available or not.

Read More

Daniel Dryzek · 04-20-2009, 09:42 PM

It is said that African domain market is so undeveloped. But at least there is something called FRED (Free Registry for ENUM and Domains). I also heard that some African countries already have implemented this solution. This should help registries to get automated and more professional and easy to use for registrants.

DD

Alfredo · 04-20-2009, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel Dryzek

It is said that African domain market is so undeveloped. But at least there is something called FRED (Free Registry for ENUM and Domains). I also heard that some African countries already have implemented this solution. This should help registries to get automated and more professional and easy to use for registrants.

DD

I've tried registering in some African countries and it has been impossible. In some cases, the NICs not responded.

Other problem is the expensive prices and the requirements.

I hope this is easier soon.

Daniel Dryzek · 04-20-2009, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alfredo

I've tried registering in some African countries and it has been impossible. In some cases, the NICs not responded.

Other problem is the expensive prices and the requirements.

Friend of mine invests in .co.ke domain names and develop premium names but there's a lot of work still to do in African ccTLD registries to make it easier, faster and cheaper to register domain names.

There are only 10.000 .co.ke domains registered in Kenya (population of this country is 38 million, the same as in Poland where there are 1.38 million domains registered).

It is also nice to compare those two registries, because the prices of domains in both of them are similar - it's around 9 EUR per year - both for .co.ke and .pl ccTLD.

DD

Alfredo · 04-20-2009, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel Dryzek

Friend of mine invests in .co.ke domain names and develop premium names but there's a lot of work still to do in African ccTLD registries to make it easier, faster and cheaper to register domain names.

There are only 10.000 .co.ke domains registered in Kenya (population of this country is 38 million, the same as in Poland where there are 1.38 million domains registered).

It is also nice to compare those two registries, because the prices of domains in both of them are similar - it's around 9 EUR per year - both for .co.ke and .pl ccTLD.

DD

KENIC have a special regulation. If you register domainnames.co.ke lock domain-names.co.ke and vice versa.

KENIC reduced the cost of domains in August 2008 and increased the domains.

Historic:
6000 domains registered on February, 2007
7000 domains registered on July, 2007
8200 domains registered in September, 2008

Daniel Dryzek · 04-20-2009, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alfredo

KENIC have a special regulation. If you register domainnames.co.ke lock domain-names.co.ke and vice versa.

Hmm, I didn't know. I will ask my friend and see if he is aware of that regulation.

Quote:

KENIC reduced the cost of domains in August 2008 and increased the domains.

Prices are really nice. And if you manage > 2000 domains you get 50% discount (lower discounts for less domains also available). As for African TLD prices are very competitive.

DD

snicksnack · 04-21-2009, 03:29 AM

there is also Council of Country Code Administrators Incorporated which can be used as registry system. I think some 20 countries already us the cocca registry system. It is free and easy to use and big registrars like Markmonitor and MelbourneIT have already implmented the system.

Alfredo · 04-21-2009, 12:19 PM

Kenic want to reach 100,000 domains. The number one is .com.za with about 400,000 domains. They are in the middle, but they is working hard and surely they increase the domains number.

Daniel Dryzek · 04-21-2009, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alfredo

The number one is .com.za with about 400,000 domains.

Not bad at all. There are more than 466.000 .co.za domains registered in 49 million country in Africa.

co.za takes care of the registry. And domains are cheap - only 4 EUR per year! Maybe that's also the reason that .co.za domains are so popular.

DD

Alfredo · 04-21-2009, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel Dryzek

Not bad at all. There are more than 466.000 .co.za domains registered in 49 million country in Africa.

co.za takes care of the registry. And domains are cheap - only 4 EUR per year! Maybe that's also the reason that .co.za domains are so popular.

DD

Where you registrer for 4 Euros?

Daniel Dryzek · 04-21-2009, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alfredo

Where you registrer for 4 Euros?

I found it here and I guess 50 ZAR (~ 4 EUR) is the fee to maintain the .co.za domain name.

DD

04-20-2009, 11:47 AM	#1 (permalink)
Alfredo Status: Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Spain Posts: 593	Africa's top-level domains stymied by manual operations Low Internet penetration, poor marketing strategies and manual operations of registries have hampered the growth of Africa's top level domains. Automation is critical; most African domain registries are operated manually and take a long time before the domain can be approved while .com address take minutes to purchase, said Ndukwe Kalu, president of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association. "There are several registrars in Africa selling foreign domains because it makes business sense. The local domain may be free but it does not make a business case to commit several hours just for one domain," Kalu said. Some of the registries in the continent like .ke for Kenya are semi-automated; it lacks the user interface that allows the user to purchase the domain online. The user is forced to fill in forms, forward to a registrar, then wait for confirmation whether the domain is available or not. Read More

04-20-2009, 09:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
Daniel Dryzek Status: Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Warsaw, PL Posts: 390	Re: Africa's top-level domains stymied by manual operations It is said that African domain market is so undeveloped. But at least there is something called FRED (Free Registry for ENUM and Domains). I also heard that some African countries already have implemented this solution. This should help registries to get automated and more professional and easy to use for registrants. DD __________________ MeetDomainers.eu – Truly European Meeting of Domain Investors! Domain Market in Europe / Follow me on Twitter! ddfund.eu - ccTLD domain fund & domain development

04-21-2009, 03:29 AM	#7 (permalink)
snicksnack Status: Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: China Posts: 293	Re: Africa's top-level domains stymied by manual operations there is also Council of Country Code Administrators Incorporated which can be used as registry system. I think some 20 countries already us the cocca registry system. It is free and easy to use and big registrars like Markmonitor and MelbourneIT have already implmented the system. __________________ ccTLD registration at domainer friendly prices .de €3.50 / .be € 5.0 / .co.uk €6.20 / .es €6.80 / .nl €6.20 many other good deals. .CM top level domains for Euro 70 per year.

04-21-2009, 12:19 PM	#8 (permalink)
Alfredo Status: Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Spain Posts: 593	Re: Africa's top-level domains stymied by manual operations Kenic want to reach 100,000 domains. The number one is .com.za with about 400,000 domains. They are in the middle, but they is working hard and surely they increase the domains number.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode