Insights from ICANN: New gTLD Program Breakfast
\On Wednesday, 2 April 2025, we attended an insightful New gTLD Program Breakfast hosted by ICANN in collaboration with GirlHype at the Guga S’thebe Cultural Centre in Langa, Cape Town.
ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) is the private, non-government, nonprofit corporation with responsibility for Internet Protocol (IP) address space allocation, protocol parameter assignment, domain name system (DNS) management and root server system management functions.
The conversations held aimed to bring together key industry players and introduce them to a potentially lucrative business opportunity in the domain name industry, accessible to any entity within the Cape Town metro.
To fully grasp the opportunity, it’s essential to understand key terms within the domain name industry, such as registrars, registries, and registrants. A registrar is an entity that provides domain name registration services, while a registrant is an individual or entity that registers and manages a domain name. A registry, on the other hand, is responsible for managing and maintaining the top-level domain (TLD) and its associated records.
The ICANN team highlighted significant gaps and business opportunities within South Africa’s domain name sector. One example is the untapped potential for using city domain names to digitally distribute municipal rates and tax bills via email, rather than relying on traditional mail.
With 116 wards and around 1.4 million households in Cape Town, gaining the support of local councillors and the mayor to digitize this process could lead to significant success.
By embracing digital transformation in the domain name industry, We have a unique opportunity to streamline essential services and unlock new economic potential. The insights shared at the New gTLD Program Breakfast underscored the importance of collaboration between industry leaders, policymakers, and local businesses to drive innovation.
The day ended with everyone sharing a traditional African meal, reinforcing the spirit of community and togetherness that defined the event.
