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.ad domains to go global soon
Kevin Murphy,
May 1, 2024, 08:18:53 (UTC),
Domain Registries
Andorra’s ccTLD is to become the latest potential domain hack for the Anglophone world, when the local registry massively liberalizes its registration policies later this year.
.ad domains are due to become available to any registrant globally starting in October, via an as-yet-unpublished list of approved registrars. General availability wholesale prices appear to be €15 ($16) a year.
Currently, the domains are only available to Andorrans manually going through the government trademark office, but it seems the registry, Andorra Telecom, has moved to a standardized EPP back-end with all the usual business logic that entails.
Before GA, starting May 22, there will be a gradual ramp-up period that seems to combine elements of typical sunrise and landrush periods. Foreign trademark owners will be able to apply during this period.
Interestingly, it seems that you may also be able to register a .ad that matches your domain in another TLD, without a matching trademark, during this period.
.ad is of course an abbreviation of “advertisement” in English, which may make it attractive to registrants outside Andorra.
The attractiveness is perhaps enhanced by the fact the the plural, .ads, is one of many gTLDs that Google owns but has so far refused to launch.
Andorra is a tiny nation, with a population about the same as Grimsby, nestled in the mountains between France and Spain. The national language is Catalan, as is the new registry web site.
Hi Kevin,
The « transition » or re-launch period will be reserved to Andorran companies, citizens and residents, except for trademarks of any jurisdiction with an accessible online datgabase (in order to checkthe registration info) and a «yes, « landrush », withthelowest priority (no priority..) level. The « same domain in other TLDs » apply hence to Andorrans only, and is a priority category designed for allthose who were unable to get their .ad domain due tothe hgighly restrictive rules in force up to now.
And in case you wonder: yes, the RSP from May 22nd wil lbe a joint service of puntCAT and CORE.
TheEnglish translation of the wbsite is on its way, too 😉
Thanks Amadeu.
Good news 😉