IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process
The IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process will launch on 16 November 2009, at 00.00 UTC. At this time, ICANN will make the system for submitting requests for IDN ccTLDs available along with additional material supporting the launch.
The recent ICANN meeting in Korea (26-30 October 2009) was a milestone in IDN TLD development. The ICANN Board approved the IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process. The resolution of the Board approval is available here, and the transcript from the ICANN Board meeting is available here. A detailed presentation of the requirements in the IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process can be found here.
The IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process will enable countries and territories that use languages based on scripts other than Latin to offer their users domain names in non-Latin characters. These IDN ccTLDs will be available only to the governments and administrations of countries and territories listed in the ISO 3166-1 standard, or their designated representatives or operators. There is a number of string requirements for IDN ccTLDs to be delegated through the process, one of which is demonstration that the IDN ccTLD constitute a meaningful representation of the corresponding country or territory name.
News and Announcements
IDN Meetings and Presentations
A meetings calendar with IDN related meetings are available here: http://www.icann.org/en/topics/idn/meetings.htm. Presentations specific to the IDN ccTLD fast-track process are posted in the following:
- 28 August 2008: Internet Festival, Hammamet, Tunis, IDN Overview and Update, by Baher Esmat (ICANN, Manager, Regional Relations, Middle East)