Domgate recently participated in the ICANN Community Forum held in Mumbai from 7–12 March 2026, organized by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). The event brought together global stakeholders from the domain name industry and provided a valuable opportunity to meet existing partners, explore new collaborations, and follow the latest policy developments shaping the DNS ecosystem.
Among the many discussions, particular attention was given to policies affecting country code top-level domains (ccTLDs). The Country Code Names Supporting Organization (ccNSO) advanced several initiatives aimed at strengthening the governance and stability of national domain extensions.
One of the key frameworks discussed was the ccTLD Retirement Policy, which introduces a structured 5–10 year process for the orderly retirement of a ccTLD when necessary. The policy requires coordination between the ccTLD manager and the IANA operator to ensure the stability and security of the DNS during the transition.
Another important development is the ccNSO Review Mechanism, currently being implemented. This framework establishes an independent review process for certain IANA decisions related to the delegation, transfer, or retirement of ccTLDs, improving transparency and accountability in operational decisions.
The forum also highlighted continued progress on Internationalized Domain Name (IDN) ccTLD strings, which enable domain names in local scripts and languages. Examples such as .भारत demonstrate how IDN ccTLDs support a more multilingual and inclusive internet while maintaining alignment with existing DNS frameworks.
Overall, the discussions at ICANN Mumbai reinforced the importance of clear policy structures to support the long-term stability, transparency, and global coordination of ccTLDs.
