ICANN is reopening applications for new TLDs after a pause since 2012

ICANN Opens Applications for New gTLDs Again

At the end of last month, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) announced the launch of another round of first‑level domain registration (gTLD). This is the first such process since 2012, when applications were closed from 2009 to 2021.

A Brief History of Domain Zones
* RFC 920 – a document prepared by John Postel and Joyce Reynolds that laid the groundwork for the modern naming system. It proposed creating the first publicly available zones:

* `.gov`, `.edu`, `.com`, `.mil`, and `.org`.

* Until then, the only domain was `.arpa` (referring to the U.S. Advanced Research Projects Agency).

* As the Internet grew, it became clear that a single domain was insufficient. In 1985 five new zones were put into operation, including `.net`.

In the early 2000s, during the dot‑com boom, ICANN added professional zones:

`*.biz`, `*.info`, `*.name`, `*.pro`.

Later more public options appeared – for example, `.museum` and `.asia`.

2012 – Opening of New gTLDs
In 2012, ICANN first allowed applications for proprietary top‑level domains both for commercial companies and non‑profit projects. Applications could use characters from non‑Latin alphabets.

* Over 2,000 applications were received.

* More than 1,900 were approved – nearly 95 % passed the check successfully.

After that, applications were closed, but now they are open again.

What’s New in the Current Round
1. There are 27 available gTLD options (e.g., `.tech`, `.shop`, `.online`, etc.).

2. ICANN released an FAQ list indicating:

* Which applications are likely to be accepted.

* Which applications should expect rejection.

3. The registration fee is $227,000 USD (payment due by August 12).

4. The registration process may extend until 2030, as each new domain undergoes a lengthy review and coordination.

How to Apply
1. Choose your desired gTLD from the list of available options.

2. Check the FAQ for potential issues.

3. Pay the registration fee by August 12.

4. Wait for ICANN’s decision – the process can take several years.

Thus, ICANN is once again opening doors to new first‑level domains, giving companies and organizations a chance to secure their brand on the Internet with a unique address.