Category: 2026 New gTLD Program

As the 2026 new gTLD program brings forth a new generation of top-level domains, registry operators are increasingly looking to the Extensible Provisioning Protocol (EPP) as a foundation for delivering innovative registry services. Originally designed as a flexible, XML-based protocol for managing domain name lifecycle events—such as creation, renewal, transfer, and deletion—EPP remains the core…

The 2026 new gTLD program unfolds within a global regulatory environment that is significantly more complex and demanding than the one that existed during the previous round. Nowhere is this more evident than in the European Union, where the revised Network and Information Security Directive—commonly known as NIS2—has come into force, reshaping the operational and…

As the 2026 new gTLD program expands the global namespace and welcomes a new wave of registry operators, the imperative to strengthen trust in the Domain Name System has never been greater. One of the foundational tools in this effort is the strategic implementation of DNS Security Extensions, commonly known as DNSSEC. Designed to address…

As the 2026 new gTLD program progresses, understanding and effectively engaging with the ICANN multistakeholder community is essential for any applicant hoping to navigate the complex landscape of Internet governance. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) operates under a bottom-up, consensus-driven model that brings together diverse stakeholders—governments, businesses, technical experts, civil society,…

As the 2026 new gTLD program ushers in a new wave of domain name opportunities, registry operators are increasingly exploring advanced technologies to optimize pricing strategies. Among the most transformative developments is the application of machine learning for predictive domain valuation. In a highly competitive domain name market, the ability to accurately forecast the value…

As the 2026 new gTLD program accelerates toward the evaluation and delegation phases, applicants must prepare not only for technical and policy compliance but also for one of the most strategically complex scenarios in the process—contention resolution. A contention set arises when two or more applicants apply for identical or confusingly similar strings that cannot…

As the domain name ecosystem evolves through the 2026 new gTLD program, the topic of WHOIS accuracy remains a central pillar in discussions around accountability, trust, and policy compliance. At the heart of this issue is the WHOIS Accuracy Reporting System, or ARS—a long-standing mechanism developed and operated by ICANN to assess the syntactic and…

As the 2026 new gTLD program progresses, the security expectations placed on registry operators have increased substantially, driven by growing threats to the Domain Name System, more demanding regulatory environments, and heightened scrutiny from ICANN and global stakeholders. One of the most recognized responses to these pressures is the adoption of formal information security management…

As the 2026 new gTLD program reinvigorates the global domain name ecosystem, registry operators must plan not only for primary market operations—such as initial registrations and renewals—but also for the inevitable dynamics of the secondary market. This market, where previously registered domains are resold among registrants or via brokers, represents a substantial economic layer within…

As the 2026 new gTLD program opens the door for a new generation of top-level domains, applicants are once again faced with the opportunity—and in some cases, the strategic necessity—of incorporating Voluntary Public Interest Commitments, or PICs, into their applications. While mandatory PICs are now well established as contractual obligations designed to protect DNS stability…