.asia
| gTLD | |
|---|---|
| |
| Type | gtld registry operator and not-for-profit foundation |
| Subtype | Sponsored TLD |
| Status | Active |
| Introduced | October 09, 2007 |
| Implemented | March 26, 2008 |
| Registry | DotAsia Organisation |
| Websites | |
DotAsia (.Asia) is a not-for-profit organization with a mandate to promote Internet development and adoption in the Asia Pacific community. DotAsia operates a sponsored top-level domain (sTLD) designated for the Asia-Pacific region, as a part of the core global Internet infrastructure. It is the first gTLD to be headquartered in Asia, and every â.Asiaâ domain registration contributes to Internet development for the Asia Pacific.[1]
DotAsia publishes Social Impact Assessment (SIA) reports (since 2020) on its core community projects as well as reports supported by the DotAsia Sponsor Community Project (SCP) Fund. It also provides front-end registry services for .KIDS and .MO (Macao).
History
editIn 2004, ICANN invited proposals for new sponsored TLDs. DotAsia submitted its application to create a domain serving businesses, individuals, and organizations with ties to the Asia-Pacific region.[2] DotAsia was created in 2006 through a Sponsored TLD Registry Agreement with ICANN, which was renewed in 2019.
The .Asia TLD was delegated into the DNS root on 2 May 2007,[3] with a phased launch that began with a Sunrise period for trademark holders on 9 October 2007 and culminated with public registrations opening in March 2008.[4] The Sunrise Period, Landrush Period, and Pioneer Domains Program went historically smooth for .Asia, with DotAsia being the first to undergo the Sunrise Period. DotAsia conceived the Pioneer Domains Program as an alternative to the general âfirst-come-first-serveâ policy usually put in place through the Sunrise and Landrush periods. The departure from this model marked the first time an application for a domain name was approved on the quality of the application itself. The Sunrise period began in October 2007. The Landrush lasted from February to March 2008. There were zero disputes received throughout the entire start-up process. Vint Cerf was quoted as saying: âThe Pioneer Domains Program will be a useful benchmark for other new TLD operators to take into accountâ.
Registration Requirements
editTo register a .Asia domain, applicants must meet the Charter Eligibility requirement by satisfying at least one of the following requirements:
- The .ASIA domain Registrant must accept to be subject to the Charter Eligibility Dispute Resolution Policy (CEDRP) in the Registrant Agreement.
- The .ASIA domain must have at least one Domain Contact that is a legal entity in the DotAsia Community.
- The .ASIA domain must have at least one Administrative Contact with a postal address within the DotAsia Community.
Internationalized Domain Names
editThe .Asia TLD supports Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) in several Asian scriptsâincluding Han (Chinese), Japanese, and Hangul (Korean), allowing registrants to use their local language in domain names.[5] DotAsia CEO Edmon Chung is a recognized expert and a supporter of IDNs, and has been integral to the deployment of IDNs on DotAsia and on other domains.
Usage and Adoption
editSince its launch, .Asia has garnered significant interest from regional businesses and international brands seeking to target Asian markets. Industry reports have noted that registration numbers have reached the hundreds of thousands (estimated 352,000 in April 2025), reflecting its growing prominence across the region.[6]
References
editICANNWiki resources: Special Pages | Content Guide | Documentation | Development || Maintenance: Articles needing attention | Candidates for deletion || Projects: Internet & Digital Governance Library