Latest news with #ICANN83PolicyForum
Business Standard
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
India Gears Up for Internet Naming Revolution as ICANN Prepares New gTLD Round
India PR Distribution Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 19: After a 12-year pause, ICANN -- the global internet governance body-- is reopening its New gTLD application window in 2026. This program will once again allow businesses, cities, and organizations to apply for their own domain name extensions, marking a rare opportunity to secure long-term digital autonomy. At the recently concluded ICANN83 Policy Forum in Prague, a visibly stronger Indian presence -- comprising government officials, internet governance leaders, and domain name experts -- signaled growing interest from India in participating meaningfully this time. "This program gives Indian companies a rare opportunity to own a permanent digital identity," said Sushil Pal, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), who led the Indian delegation. "We believe DotBrands can play a key role in advancing digital trust, security, and self-reliance." While international corporations like Google (.google), Microsoft (.microsoft), and Barclays (.barclays) already operate their own extensions, India's footprint in the last round was modest. Only a handful of Indian companies applied, and even fewer moved forward with active usage. The current momentum seems different. "Compared to 2012, there's significantly more clarity and preparedness now," said Samiran Gupta, ICANN. "We're seeing more Indian stakeholders engage early -- from brands and banks to technical and policy professionals." Among those involved in building that readiness is Venkatesh Venkatasubramanian, an independent New gTLD Consultant who attended ICANN83 as part of the Indian delegation. His work focuses on helping organizations understand the implications and process behind operating their own top-level domains. "For many, the idea of owning a domain extension still sounds abstract. But once you see how .brand domains create trust, eliminate phishing, and put digital control back in the hands of the business, it becomes a very tangible asset," said Venkatesh, New gTLD Consultant at With the application period expected to be open for just 90 days in 2026, stakeholders emphasized the need to begin preparations well in advance -- especially for enterprise-scale applicants who will need legal, technical, and operational planning. "This isn't a last-minute decision -- applying for a DotBrand New gTLD requires months of planning, detailed documentation, and technical readiness. With the window expected to be open for just 90 days, brands that want to apply need to start preparing now -- and that's where the right consultant can make all the difference," Venkatesh added. As India continues to invest in digital infrastructure and champions the narrative of an open and secure internet, the coming year could be pivotal in reshaping how Indian brands stake their presence in the global domain space. Imagine brands like Zomato using CRED offering or Adani Group launching portals like -- all within a secure, brand-owned ecosystem. These DotBrand domains reduce dependence on .com, enhance customer trust, and give companies complete control over their digital infrastructure. India's growing digital maturity, coupled with its emphasis on Atmanirbhar Bharat and Digital India, makes the timing ideal.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ICANN83 Policy Forum Set for Prague Amid Key Milestones
PRAGUE, May 28, 2025 /CNW/ -- The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is pleased to announce that the ICANN83 Policy Forum will take place 9–12 June 2025 in Prague, Czech Republic. The meeting comes at a critical time in Internet governance, as the global Internet community prepares for the 20-year review of the World Summit on the Information Society outcomes (WSIS+20), a process that will assess progress on digital development goals and revisit how the Internet is governed, including the continued relevance of the multistakeholder model. ICANN83 will bring together participants from governments, civil society, the private sector, and the technical community to work on important policy issues affecting the Domain Name System (DNS) and the Internet's unique identifier systems at the Prague Congress Center. Discussions will focus on technical coordination, the evolving DNS landscape, and critical topics such as Universal Acceptance, DNS Abuse, the New gTLD Program: Next Round, and the broader implications of digital policy decisions taking shape around the world. "At a time when the Internet's future is being debated on global stages, ICANN83 is where practical solutions and policy come together," said Kurtis Lindqvist, ICANN President and CEO. "This meeting gives the community a chance to make real progress on the decisions that shape how the Internet functions and how people around the world access it." This year's Policy Forum also emphasizes broad participation for both seasoned stakeholders and new participants. The format is designed to support working sessions, cross-community dialogue, and open engagement, whether attendees are joining in person or remotely. ICANN83 is being organized with the support of the registry operator for the .cz country code top-level domain and a longtime contributor to Internet policy and infrastructure development in the region. "We're pleased to welcome the ICANN community back to Prague, and to support the ongoing work that keeps the Internet stable, secure, and globally connected," said Ondřej Filip, CEO of "We value the chance to contribute to the conversations shaping the Internet's next chapter." ICANN Public Meetings are free and open to anyone interested in the coordination of the Internet's unique identifiers. Registration for in-person participation is open through 8 June 2025, and remote participation is also available. Visit the ICANN83 website for more information and to view the meeting schedule. About ICANN ICANN's mission is to help ensure a stable, secure, and unified global Internet. To reach another person on the Internet, you need to type an address – a name or a number – into your computer or other device. That address must be unique so computers know where to find each other. ICANN helps coordinate and support these unique identifiers across the world. ICANN was formed in 1998 as a nonprofit public benefit corporation with a community of participants from all over the world. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE ICANN View original content to download multimedia: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Cision Canada
28-05-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
ICANN83 Policy Forum Set for Prague Amid Key Milestones
PRAGUE, May 28, 2025 /CNW/ -- The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is pleased to announce that the ICANN83 Policy Forum will take place 9–12 June 2025 in Prague, Czech Republic. The meeting comes at a critical time in Internet governance, as the global Internet community prepares for the 20-year review of the World Summit on the Information Society outcomes (WSIS+20), a process that will assess progress on digital development goals and revisit how the Internet is governed, including the continued relevance of the multistakeholder model. ICANN83 will bring together participants from governments, civil society, the private sector, and the technical community to work on important policy issues affecting the Domain Name System (DNS) and the Internet's unique identifier systems at the Prague Congress Center. Discussions will focus on technical coordination, the evolving DNS landscape, and critical topics such as Universal Acceptance, DNS Abuse, the New gTLD Program: Next Round, and the broader implications of digital policy decisions taking shape around the world. "At a time when the Internet's future is being debated on global stages, ICANN83 is where practical solutions and policy come together," said Kurtis Lindqvist, ICANN President and CEO. "This meeting gives the community a chance to make real progress on the decisions that shape how the Internet functions and how people around the world access it." This year's Policy Forum also emphasizes broad participation for both seasoned stakeholders and new participants. The format is designed to support working sessions, cross-community dialogue, and open engagement, whether attendees are joining in person or remotely. ICANN83 is being organized with the support of the registry operator for the .cz country code top-level domain and a longtime contributor to Internet policy and infrastructure development in the region. "We're pleased to welcome the ICANN community back to Prague, and to support the ongoing work that keeps the Internet stable, secure, and globally connected," said Ondřej Filip, CEO of "We value the chance to contribute to the conversations shaping the Internet's next chapter." ICANN Public Meetings are free and open to anyone interested in the coordination of the Internet's unique identifiers. Registration for in-person participation is open through 8 June 2025, and remote participation is also available. Visit the ICANN83 website for more information and to view the meeting schedule. About ICANN ICANN's mission is to help ensure a stable, secure, and unified global Internet. To reach another person on the Internet, you need to type an address – a name or a number – into your computer or other device. That address must be unique so computers know where to find each other. ICANN helps coordinate and support these unique identifiers across the world. ICANN was formed in 1998 as a nonprofit public benefit corporation with a community of participants from all over the world.
