The IE Domain Registry (IEDR) has revealed the number of .ie domain names has surpassed the 150,000 mark.
Speaking with Siliconrepublic, IEDR CEO David Curtin said 98pc of domains are now registered by resellers and, with the growth of smartphones and e-commerce, he predicts massive growth in domain registration.
The 150,000th domain was registered by registrant Clyde Negosanu of www.localcomputerrepair.ie, serving the Wicklow and South Dublin area.
Curtin said that passing the 150,000th domain milestone shows continued demand from Irish businesses for an online identity as well as the strong and safe reputation the .ie domain holds. Last year, the .ie domain emerged as having the safest web domain address in Europe, according to McAfee’s third annual Mapping the Mal Web report. The safest domain in the world was held by Japan’s .jp domain.
Curtin said the number of .ie domains registered has jumped 50pc in two years. “This is due to the hard work of the registers (resellers) who generate 98.5pc of all registrations.”
He continued: “The interesting thing is that 80pc of .ie registrations are by businesses, including corporates, sole traders and SMEs.
“As we look ahead to the next 150,000 .ie domains, we are looking at SMEs and SOHO workers. There are lots of individuals and entrepreneurs setting up websites and using the internet as a sales channel.”
Curtin also acknowledged the rise and rise of the mobile internet as having an impact on the internet ecosystem in Ireland.
“The mobile internet has provided a massive boost to internet usage, thanks to Android, iPhone and iPad devices, as well as netbooks and PCs used via mobile networks or in Wi-Fi zones.
“We would like to see PC ownership and online spending increase in Ireland. The more this happens the more demand there is for new domains,” he said.
A new resource, www.why.ie, was also unveiled by IEDR. The website contains registration information and advice for .ie registrars and registrants, particularly SMEs, on topics such as search engine optimisation, web design, e-commerce and online security.
Curtin told Siliconrepublic there are now 98 resellers working on behalf of the IEDR and that the top 3 would account for 64pc of new registrations, which he said reflected their use of automation.
