A Review of the Domain Name Market in India
Mansi Kedia Richa Sekhani Gangesh Varma
Ujjwal Krishna Raj Kumar Shahi
MAY 2020
A Review of the Domain Name Market in India
Mansi Kedia
Richa Sekhani
Gangesh Varma
Ujjwal Krishna
Raj Kumar Shahi
MAY 2020
Disclaimer:
Opinions and recommendations in the report are exclusively of the author(s) and not of any other individual or institution
including ICRIER. This report has been prepared in good faith on the basis of information available at the date of
publication. All interactions and transactions with industry sponsors and their representatives have been transparent and
conducted in an open, honest and independent manner as enshrined in ICRIER Memorandum of Association. ICRIER does
not accept any corporate funding that comes with a mandated research area which is not in line with ICRIER’s research
agenda. The corporate funding of an ICRIER activity does not, in any way, imply ICRIER’s endorsement of the views of the
sponsoring organization or its products or policies. ICRIER does not conduct research that is focused on any specific
product or service provided by the corporate sponsor.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgement ..................................................................................................................... i
Executive Summary ................................................................................................................. ii
1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 1
1.1 Industry Value Chain .................................................................................................. 4
1.2 Evolution of domain name market .............................................................................. 5
2. Global Trends in the Domain Name Industry ................................................................. 9
2.1 Top Level Domains (TLD) ........................................................................................ 11
3. Domain Name Market in India ....................................................................................... 14
3.1 Future growth drivers of the Domain Name Industry in India ................................. 17
3.1.1 Smartphone adoption, high internet penetration and growth in data
consumption provide foundation for growth ................................................... 17
3.1.2 Growing online commerce ............................................................................... 18
3.1.3 Growing small and medium business (SMBs) ................................................. 18
3.1.4 Government Initiatives..................................................................................... 19
3.1.5 Favourable demographics and a burgeoning middle class ............................. 19
4. Insights from the Enterprise Survey on the domain name industry in India ............ 20
4.1 Enterprise survey ...................................................................................................... 20
4.1.1 Sample description........................................................................................... 20
4.1.2 Preference for Registrars and Packaged services ........................................... 24
4.1.3 Pricing ............................................................................................................. 25
4.1.4 Awareness on New gTLDs and Internationalised domain names (IDNs) ....... 25
4.2 Individual survey....................................................................................................... 26
4.2.1 Sample description........................................................................................... 26
4.2.2 Individual behavior .......................................................................................... 27
4.2.3 Preference for Registrars and Packaged services ........................................... 29
4.2.4 Pricing ............................................................................................................. 30
4.2.5 Awareness on New gTLDs and Internationalised domain names (IDNs) ....... 31
5. Competition Analysis in India’s Domain Name Industry ............................................ 32
5.1 Competitive rivalry ................................................................................................... 33
5.2 Threat of new entrant ................................................................................................ 37
5.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers ................................................................................ 38
5.4 Bargaining power of buyer ....................................................................................... 38
5.5 Threat of substitutes .................................................................................................. 40
5.6 Summary of Porter’s Five Forces Analysis .............................................................. 41
6. Conclusions and Policy Recommendations ................................................................... 43
Bibliography ........................................................................................................................... 46
Appendix ................................................................................................................................. 49
List of Figures
Figure 1.1: Anatomy of the Domain Name System (DNS).................................................. 1
Figure 1.2: Value chain of the domain name industry ......................................................... 4
Figure 1.3: Evolution and History of Domain Name System .............................................. 7
Figure 2.1: Cross country comparison (percentage of enterprises owning a website) (2018)
............................................................................................................................ 9
Figure 2.2: Growth in internet users and domain name count across the globe (in
percentage) ....................................................................................................... 10
Figure 2.3: Domain Count (gTLDs) per Region as of December 2019 ............................. 11
Figure 2.4: Combined registrations on .com and .net (in millions) .................................... 12
Figure 2.5a: New gTLDs: percentage share as on May 2020 .............................................. 13
Figure 2.5b: New gTLDs: percentage share as on May 2020 .............................................. 13
Figure 3.1: Percentage share of Top 10 TLDs in India as on May 2020 ........................... 15
Figure 4.1a: Enterprises in the sample by revenue ............................................................... 21
Figure 4.1b: Enterprises in the sample by revenue ............................................................... 21
Figure 4.3: Enterprises’ reasons for using a domain name ................................................ 22
Figure 4.4: Top level domains registered by enterprises .................................................... 23
Figure 4.5: Additional services purchased by enterprises along with domain name in a
package ............................................................................................................ 24
Figure 4.6: Enterprises’ recognition of new gTLDs ........................................................... 26
Figure 4.7: Distribution of monthly incomes of individuals in the sample ........................ 27
Figure 4.8: Individuals’ reasons for using a domain name ................................................ 27
Figure 4.9: Individual registrations of TLDs ...................................................................... 29
Figure 4.10: Additional services purchased by individuals along with domain name in a
package ............................................................................................................ 30
Figure 4.11: Individuals’ recognition of new gTLDs ........................................................... 31
Figure 5.1: Porter’s Five Forces Framework ...................................................................... 33
Figure 5.2: Domain Name Universe in India - Split by Key Attached Services ................ 39
List of Tables
Table 2.1: Top 10 ccTLDs Registrations as on May 2020 ............................................... 12
Table 3.2a: new gTLDs registartions in India percentage share ......................................... 15
Table 3.3: Registrar-wise Percentage of Domains with (Developed) Websites ............... 16
Table 3.4: India’s Digital Economy .................................................................................. 18
Table 5.1a: List of Top 10 Registrars selling gTLDs in India ............................................ 34
Table 5.1b: List of Top 10 Registrars selling new gTLDs in India as of August 14th , 2019
.......................................................................................................................... 34
Table 5.2: Domain Name Services provided by Various Registrars ................................ 36
Table 5.3: Registration, Renewal and Transfer Price charged by registrars for various
domain names (annual price) as on May 28th, 2020 ....................................... 40
Table 5.4: Summary of the Competition Analysis using Five Forces .............................. 42
i
Acknowledgement
We are grateful to The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) for
giving us this opportunity to undertake a project that evaluates the domain name industry in
India. We would like to thank their teams for their continuous support and guidance in
helping shape the study to its current form.
We are also grateful to the team at Spectrum Research for conducting the survey for
individuals and enterprises. We would like to thank all our stakeholders including The
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), National Internet
Exchange of India (NIXI), registries, registrars and registrants for their valuable insights. We
would like to thank Isha Suri and Siddharth Naidu for their extensive and formative support.
Finally, we are grateful to our team at ICRIER for their unending supply of wisdom and time,
making ICRIER a delightful place to reflect on such an engaging and stimulating area of
research. All errors of course remain our own.
ii
Executive Summary
The evolving role of the Internet has resulted in a paradigmatic shift in the way trade and
commerce is now conducted. More and more businesses are going online; the past decade has
witnessed an explosive growth in the number of businesses and individuals who have
invested in a personal webspace. As a result, demand for domain names have increased. As
per the domain name stats, domain name counts were recorded to be 408.5 million across all
top-level domains (TLDs) in May 2020. ccTLDs accounted for 37% of the total registrations
(149.6 million). Amongst gTLDs, .com and .net continue to be market leaders. They have a
combined total of approximately 183.9 million registrations. For new gTLDs, recorded
registrations were 62 million as on May 2020, accounting for approximately 15% of the total
TLDs, with popular ones being. .icu, .top, .xyz, .site and .online
On the back of a vibrant Internet ecosystem in India, thrives a rapidly growing domain name
market. Domain name registrations counts in India increased by 7.1% during the period
2016-17 and recorded a total of 5 million in May 2020. Registrations in India, however,
account for only 1.24 percent of the global market. The popularity of “.com” is also
observable in India. As a legacy TLD it commands almost 51% of the domain name market
in India followed by .in and .org with their respective share being 31.14% and 4.41%
respectively. The preferred nTLDs are .xyz and .online and .ooo. The market shares and
rankings of TLDs change over time, even though the top choices have always remained .com
and .in. The primary reason for this order of preference to is that of the domain reflecting the
activity or the business location. Further familiarity, easy recognition, trust, price
affordability and resale value of the domain also influence the decisions of registrants.
Very similar and interesting findings were revealed in the enterprise and individual survey
analysed in the report. The survey elicited notable trends in usage patterns, industry priorities,
and market perceptions, and also delved into currently underutilised, yet high potential,
categories such as Internationalised Domain Names (IDNs). Price, brand reputation,
recommendation from friends and colleagues, offering free provision of the domain along
with other services by registrars and advertisements influences registrant’s decisions of
buying domain name from a registrar. In terms of awareness, while individual and enterprises
both could recognise the ngTLDs, they were not aware about the nomenclature. Similar but
far more pronounced was the case with IDNs.
The industry trends and findings from the survey has showcased the under penetrated market
of the domain names in India. India presents a huge opportunity for the domain name market
as online businesses trickle down to Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. However, to help this industry
achieves its maximum potential, marketing strategies of registries and registrars have to be
well aligned. India has seen a steady rise in the number of registries, registrars and resellers
that drive the supply side. While several stakeholders have entered the market, there have
also been prominent exits among registrars and several resellers have shut shop. The ability
of players to enter and exit the market is an indicator of competitiveness and is applicable
universally. The domain name market in India is deeply layered. Besides registrars, there is a
distribution network of resellers and registrants. A priori, the market seems to be competitive.
iii
There are a large number of buyers and sellers, although a centralized database reporting the
exact number of domain name registrations is absent. This is important for market analysis
and is one of the policy recommendations of the study.
An analysis of competition using Porter’s Five Forces Model in the report finds that the
domain name industry in India is fairly competitive (Medium-High). The presence of a large
number of registrars and registries along with the deeply networked reseller market makes the
industry attractive for new players. There is relative ease in the entry and exit of registrars
and the market is not yet subject to onerous regulations. This makes it an attractive
proposition for new players, who are vying for a share of a rapidly growing market in India.
Registries and registrars are tempted to offer promotions and discounts to acquire new
registrations. However, lack of awareness and technical know-how often limits the
registrant’s ability to bargain at the time of renewal. Met with reasonable services, even price
sensitive registrants hesitate to transfer domains given the actual and perceived costs of
switching. Table below summarizes the analysis where a given factor is ranked as either low,
low to medium, medium, medium to high and high; based on our analysis of how each of
these forces is likely to impact competition.
Summary of the Competition Analysis using Five Forces
Porter’s
Five Force
Level of
Competition
Summary Analysis
Competition
Rivalry
Low-medium
Large number of registrars but few of them are dominant.
Registration of new gTLDs are led by two key registrars – Go
Daddy and PDR-who between them control about 80 per cent of
the market share in this category.
Core product sold by most registrars is identical; however,
value-added services are a differentiating mechanism.
The exit barriers are moderate; process is not very tedious.
Threat of
new entrant
Medium
Accreditation process is user friendly and the barrier to entry is
extremely low for ICANN accredited registrars (The compliance
burden on registrars is significantly higher than that for
resellers).
Those selling legacy TLDs are relatively less monitored than
those selling the new generation new gTLDs.
ccTLD registrar involves accreditation from each ccTLD
registries. Documentation requirements and/or nexus rules
require registrants to be physically present within their countries,
involves verification and validation of documents which
ultimately increases the compliance burden for registrars and
their overall cost of operations.
Bargaining
power of
supplier
Medium
Each gTLD is managed by a single registry that is responsible
for maintaining necessary records (as prescribed by ICANN) of
all registered domain names within the TLD that it controls.
iv
Competition in the supplier market of new gTLD is fiercer as
each registry tries to create a niche for itself in the market.
ccTLD registries have mandated citizenship or domestic
incorporation as a criterion to register their domains and there
for can control the users of the domain names through individual
TLD policies.
Bargaining
power of
buyer
Low -Medium
The registrants in the industry can switch registrars the latter has
power to bargain with registrars.
However, lack of awareness about domain names along with
bundled services provided by registrars makes consumers
continue with registrars they originally register with, limiting
their ability to bargain.
Threat of
Substitutes
Low- Medium
With the rise of social media platforms and e-commerce
websites, small companies no longer feel the need to register
their own domain and instead piggy back on that of an existing
platform/ marketplace to advertise its product or service.
However, there is no substitute for highly personalized emails.
Domain name registration becomes necessary for a business
email address
Overall, we could conclude that the level of competition in this industry is medium-high.
While the state of competition can be improved, it may be adequate to produce efficient
outcomes and consumer welfare, at least in the short term. Competition could be increased by
increasing the market size of the industry and initiatives that can promote the registration in
India. The role of policy becomes important to create an enabling ecosystem that will help
take this growth forward. Curating and maintaining a robust database of the industry,
developing strategies to increase consumer awareness, address information asymmetry,
promoting geographic TLDs and domain names in local language, supporting startups and
SMBs and organising an annual domain names conclave to increase India’s participation in
international fora is important to voice priorities that are unique to India.
1
A Review of the Domain Name Market in India
1. Introduction
The evolving role of the Internet has resulted in a paradigmatic shift in the way trade and
commerce is now conducted. More and more businesses are going online; the past decade has
witnessed an explosive growth in the number of businesses and individuals who have
invested in a personal webspace. As a result, demand for domain names have increased
1
.
Domain names, integral to network design, act as an identification string used for naming and
addressing. Every website on the Internet is hosted on a server computer and every device
connected to the internet has to have an Internet Protocol (IP) address. which has a unique
Internet Protocol (IP) address.
2
This IP address is a sequence of characters made up of
numbers. The purpose of domain names is to assignnames to these IP addresses that are easy
to remember. Domain names are simple strings of alphanumeric American Standard Code
for Information Interchange (ASCII)
3
characters, which are not case sensitive. The owner of
the website can choose any name, given that no one else is already using the same name for
another website. Without domain names, one would have to tediously keep track of long
arrays of numbers and enter the complex sequences every time a website has to be visited.
Figure 1.1: Anatomy of the Domain Name System (DNS)
Source: ICANN, “New Generic Top-Level Domains: New gTLD Basics; New Internet Extensions
4
1
The Global Domain Name Market (2018), Global Industry Analyst, Inc.
https://www.strategyr.com/MarketResearch/market-report-infographic-domain-names-forecasts-global-
industry-analysts-inc.asp
2
In fact, every computer on the internet network has a unique IP address
3
ASCII is abbreviated from American Standard Code for Information Interchange, is a character encoding
standard for electronic communication
4
New gTLD basics, New Internet Extensions, ICANN, https://archive.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/basics-
new-extensions-21jul11-en.pdf
2
The Domain Name System (DNS) follows a treelike hierarchy, where each top-level domain
(TLD) includes many second-level domains; each second-level domain can include third-
level domains, and so on and so forth. These various elements within a domain name are
called labels; they are organized into different levels segmented by a dot (“.”). For instance,
in google.com, “.com” is the top-level domain name (TLD) and “Google” is the second level
domain name. The top-level domain such as ".com," is fairly generic. Although it is the
controlling address feature, it does not help to distinguish a site from others. A second-level
domain (SLD) is the portion of a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) that identifies the specific
and unique administrative owner associated with an Internet Protocol address (IP address)
5
.
For example, in a domain name like "google.com," the word "google," as the second-level
domain, is where domain holders put the brand name, project name, organization name or
other familiar identifier for users.In addition, there are country code top level domain
(ccTLD) that are used or reserved for a country, sovereign state, or dependent territory
identified with a country code.There are also common second-level domains, there is also a
country code second-level domain (ccSLDs). For instance, ac.uk - academic represents
tertiary education and research establishments and learned societies in United Kingdom.
A third-level domain is the next highest level following the second-level domain in domain
name hierarchy. It is the segment that is found directly to the left of the second-level domain.
The third-level domain is often called a "subdomain", and includes a third domain section to
the URL. In large organizations, every department or division may include a unique third-
level domain that can act as a simple, yet effective, way of identifying that particular
department. Various third-level domain names are used to balance the load on sites with
heavy traffic. For example, in www.mydomain.com, "www" is the third-level domain. The
usage of third-level domain names adds clarity to domain names, which makes them more
intuitive.
TLDs are further classified as country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs) and generic top-
level domains (gTLDs). Box 1.1 provides a comprehensive understanding of the DNS
typology.
5
Intermedia , https://kb.intermedia.net/Article/1215
3
Box 1.1: Understanding the Top-Level Domains (TLDs) Typology
General Top level domain name (GTLDs): A gTLD (generic top-level domain
name) is an internet domain name extension or root zone with three or more
characters. The stability and reliabilityof the namespace of all domains under gTLDs is
overseen by the non-profit organization, Internet Council for Assigned Names &
Numbers (ICANN). gTLDs are associated with some domain class, such as .com
(commercial), .net (originally intended for Internet service providers, but now used for
many purposes), .org (for non-profit organizations, industry groups, and others), .gov
(U.S. government agencies), .mil (for the military), .edu (for educational institutions);
and .int (for international treaties or databases and not much used). For example, in the
domain name, www.ibm.com, .com is the chosen gTLD. Some of the the original
gTLDs such as .com, .org or .net are now called legacy TLDs These can be
segregated in to two categories namely:
Sponsored: According to ICANN a sponsored TLD is a specialized TLD that has a
sponsor representing the narrower community that is most affected by the TLD. For
instance, .asia, .aero, .cat, .edu, .coop, .int, .gov,.jobs etc. that are mostly industry
specific and sponsored by organization and institutions.
Unsponsored: An unsponsored TLD operates under policies established by the global
Internet community directly through the ICANN process. .biz, .name, .pro which can
be used for specified purpose and are restricted to specific type of registrants. For
instance, .biz can only be used for business purposes.
Country code Top-Level Domain: It represents domain of a particular country or
territory (e.g., .in, .eu, .de, .mx, and .jp). The management of these TLDs are delegated
to designated individual country managers, whose country or territory is assigned a
unique two-letter code from the International Standards Organization’s; the managers
operate the ccTLDs according to local policies that are adapted to best meet the
economic, cultural, linguistic, and legal circumstances of the country or territory
involved. The ISO country codes are internationally recognized codes that designate every
country and most of the dependent areas a two-letter combination or a three-letter
combination; it is like an acronym, that stands for a country or a state.
International domain names (IDNs): IDN that contains at least one label that is
displayed in software applications, in whole or in part, in a language-specific script
or alphabet, such as Arabic, Chinese, or the Latin alphabet-based characters
with diacritics or ligatures, such as French. These writing systems are encoded by
computers in multi-byte Unicode. Examples of IDNs are. இந்யா, .संगठन, etc.
IDNs were introduced in 2003.
4
The past few years have witnessed a steep rise in demand for domain names. Since late 2013,
several hundred new TLDs were added by Internet Corporation for Assigned Names &
Numbers (ICANN), a non-profit organization responsible for coordination of the global
Internet system.
6
As per nTLD stats
7
, there are 1,187 new gTLDs across the globe. In
addition, the release of international domain names (IDNs) that feature non-Latin alphabets
have also enhanced the available domain name count. The increase in regional content,
access to smartphones and Internet hotspots led to increase in overall domain name
registrations
8
.
1.1 Industry Value Chain
The value chain helps explain the different layers within the industry and the relationship
between stakeholders. ICANN in 2013 represented the value chain, as depicted in Figure 1.2
below
Figure 1.2: Value chain of the domain name industry
Source: ICANN
ICANN manages coordination of technical aspects within the DNS. It also formulates rules
and procedures that are essential to the preservation of a reliable global address book of
domain names. The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), responsible for the
operational aspects. It is responsible for Internet protocol (IP) and coordinates global IP
addressing, symbols, numbering, media-type and DNS root zone management. Based at the
University of Southern California (USC), IANA manages a centralized IP database and uses
global DNS oversight to assign unique IP addresses to private or public organization.The
6
Winterfeldt . B & Moltrup . D (2015). “Brand Protection on the Internet: Domain Names, Social Media,
and Beyond”, International Trademark Association http://www.inta.org/trademarkadministration/
Documents/BrandProtectionontheInternetWinterfeldt-Final.pdf
7
https://ntldstats.com/tld
8
The Global Domain Name Market (2018), Global Industry Analyst, Inc.
https://www.strategyr.com/MarketResearch/market-report-infographic-domain-names-forecasts-global-
industry-analysts-inc.asp
5
other major stakeholders include registry operators that are responsible for management,
operation and administration of TLDs
9
. Most of the entities in this layer do not directly sell
domain names to end consumers. They sell domain names through a network of distributors
(or registrars). Some examples of ccTLD registries include the National Internet Exchange of
India (NIXI)
10
providing “.in”, DENIC (Germany)
11
providing “.de”, Association Française
Pour Le Mommage Internet En Cooperation (AFNIC)
12
- incumbent manager of “.fr”
(France). VeriSign
13
is a gTLDregistry providing “.com” and “.net”.
Registrars form the distribution layer of the value chain. For selling gTLDs and ccTLDs,
registrars have to be accredited by ICANN and ccTLD registries, respectively. Registrars
have to fulfil working capital requirements provided by ICANN to become eligible for selling
and registering domain names. Globally, there are approximately 2000
14
registrars. Some of
the big players in the market include GoDaddy, Tucows, Name Cheap etc
15
. Resellers, are
part of the distribution layer, belong in the resale market. They buy domains with the purpose
of reselling them to consumers. Registrars use the reseller network to increase their sales by
offering them sale commissions. The expanding network of registries, registrars and resellers
has led to an explosive growth of the industry with the global count of domain name
registrations across all TLDs having reached 408.5 million in May 2020
16
. The new gTLD
(new gTLD) and country-code TLD (ccTLD) registrations were totaled at 62 million and
149.6 million, respectively
17
. In growth terms, global domain name registrations have
increased at an annual rate of 3.9% in 2019
18
. The following sections examine the evolution
of the global domain name market, with a special focus on India.
1.2 Evolution of domain name market
The Internet has drastically transformed from the time it was established in 1969. The
Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET)
19
connected research centers
across the United States to share information. By the end of 1969, four host computers
20
were
added to the original ARPANET. The Network Control Protocol (NCP) was implemented in
1971-72
21
. Towards the end of the 1980s, a total of 320 computers were connected to the
9
https://www.iana.org/about
10
https://nixi.in/
11
https://www.denic.de/en/
12
https://www.afnic.fr/en/
13
https://www.verisign.com/en_IN/
14
ICANN.org; https://www.icann.org/news/multimedia/185
15
DomainState.com https://www.domainstate.com/registrar-stats.html
16
Domain Name Stats https://domainnamestat.com/statistics/overview. Numbers are as of May 26
th
, 2020.
17
Ibid. Numbers are as of May 13
th
, 2020.
18
The VeriSign Domain Name Industry Brief Q4, 2019 ; https://www.verisign.com/en_IN/domain-
names/dnib/index.xhtml?section=executive-summary
19
americasbesthistory.com ; https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1969m.html
20
Host computer is the main or controlling computer connected to other computer or terminals to which it
provides data or computing services via a network.
21
Satorras. R & , Vespignani .A (2004), “Evolution and Structure of the Internet: A Statistical Physics
Approach, ”http://fizweb.elte.hu/download/Fizikus-MSc/Infokommunikacios-halozatok-modelljei/Evo-and-
Struct-of-Internet.pdf
6
network.The growth was rapid. By 1981, the number of hosts increased to 213, with a new
host added every twenty days
22
. On January 1, 1983, NCP on the ARPANET was replaced by
the more flexible and powerful family of transmission control protocol/ internet
protocols(TCP/IP). This marked the beginning of the modern Internet.
While this development was promising, it lacked scalability. With more computers accessing
ARPANET, the challenge to remember multiple numerical IP addresses
23
began to rise. To
address this problem, hosts
24
were now assigned names along with IP addresses. Originally, a
limited number of hosts meant it was feasible to maintain a single table of all the hosts and
their associated names and IP addresses. To migrate to a larger number of independently
managed networks (e.g., LANs) meant that having a single table of hosts was no longer
feasible. This led to the inventionof the Domain Name System (DNS), developed by Paul
Mockapetris of the Information Sciences Institute of the University of Southern California in
1983.Prior to the launch of the DNS every computer retrieved a file named “HOSTS.TXT”
that mapped a domain name to a numerical IP address. Figure 1.3 provides a brief history of
the global domain name system.
The Domain Name System is essentially referred to as a mnemonic device that translates the
numerical addresses used by computers into words and phrases that are capable of being
easily remembered by users. It also translates names, such as www.cisco.com, into IP
addresses, such as 192.168.40.0 (or the more extended IPv6 addresses), so that computers can
communicate with each other. Symbolics Inc., a computer manufacturer in Massachusetts,
registered the domain name Symbolics.com, making it the first appropriately registered
“.com” domain in the world on March 15, 1985
25
.
Until 1993, domain names were registered free of cost. Network Solutions was first granted
the right to charge for domain name registrations at $100 for two years of registration.
Network Solutions Inc. (NSI) operated the registries for three top-level domains (TLDs) -
.com, .net, and .org. In addition to its function of a domain name registry, it was also the sole
registrar for these domains.
26
In 1993, the Department of Commerce, under President Clinton,
issued a proposal for privatizing the Domain Name System (DNS), which was then controlled
by the U.S. government. The document — known as the "Green Paper" — was created with
the goal to both increase competition in the market and to encourage international
participation. Public criticism of the proposal of privatization led to the creation of the "White
Paper.” Later in 1998, the business of domain providers (Registry) and domain sellers
22
A Timeline of the Internet and E-Retailing: Milestones of Influence and Concurrent Events, Kelly School of
Business . Available at https://kelley.iu.edu/CERR/timeline/print/page14868.html
23
IP address is a unique string of numbers separated by full stops that identifies each computer using the
Internet Protocol to communicate over a network.
24
In computer networking, a host (is a label that is assigned to a device connected to a computer network and
that is used to identify the device in various forms of electronic communication, such as the World Wide
Web.
25
A Brief History of the Domain Name. https://mashable.com/2014/03/10/domain-names-history/
26
ICANN Wiki. https://icannwiki.org/Network_Solutions
7
(Registrars) were separated with amendments
27
in cooperative agreements between the United
States’ Department of Commerce (DoC) and Network Solutions, Inc. ("NSI"). Amendment
13
28
set a registry fee of $9 per domain name per year, payable as $18 for new registrations.
In November of 1998, the DoC identified ICANN, a newly-formed, private, non-profit
corporation as the entity that would oversee competition under the shared registry system
(SRS)
29
. A program for registrar accreditation for TLDs such as .com, .net, and .org was
implemented in March, 1999. The domain name registrationsincreased significantly during
the dotcom boom in the late 1990s as several companies, including startups, established their
presence on the Internet.
Figure 1.3: Evolution and History of Domain Name System
27
The Amendment 11 required the establishment of a Shared Registration System in which an unlimited
number of registrars would compete for domain name registration business utilizing one shared registry (for
which NSI would continue to act as registry administrator).
https://www.ntia.doc.gov/legacy/ntiahome/domainname/proposals/DOCNSI100698.htm
28
Registrar License and Agreement. https://www.ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia/publications/amendment13.pdf
29
ICANN.org https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/history-2012-02-25-en
8
VeriSign
(1995)
.com, .net
152 billion
transactions
daily
Growth of Registries
Growth of registrars
Source: Compiled by Author
New gTLDs were subsequently introduced. In November 2000, seven new gTLDs were
introduced out of which four (.biz, .info, .name, and .pro) were unsponsored and three (.aero,
.coop, and .museum) were sponsored
30
. In 2003, ICANN initiated a process that resulted in
the introduction of another six TLDs (.asia, .cat, .jobs, .mobi, .tel and .travel) that were all
sponsored
31
.By 2005, the Domain Name System (DNS) served a global Internet, larger and
more diverse, in users and in uses, than the relatively small homogeneous network for which
it was first deployed in the early 1980s.
The Internet evolved into a new phase, with social media platforms such as Facebook,
YouTube and WhatsApp entering the market between 2004 and 2009. The thriving app
economy and online businesses further accelerated the demand for domain names. As a
result, the DNS capacity was rapidly falling short of demand. The three-character .com
domains were already used up by 1997. In December 2013, WhoAPI, a domain data analysis
startup, revealed, that every possible combination of four-letter .com domain names had been
registered. From AAAA.com to ZZZZ.com, all 456,976 combinations were already
exhausted.
32
In October 2013 the new generic top-level domain (new gTLD) programwas
introduced
33
. Today we have over a thousand TLDs, including gTLDs and new gTLDs,
giving consumers and businesses the opportunity to register domains under the likes
of .science, .guru, .xyz, .expert, .ninja, .pizza, .wine, and many more
34
.The country-code top-
level domains (ccTLDs) and internationalized domain names (IDNs) are also gaining
30
An unsponsored TLD operates under policies established by the global Internet community directly through
the ICANN process, while a sponsored TLD is a specialized TLD that has a sponsor representing the
narrower community that is most affected by the TLD. The sponsor thus carries out delegated policy-
formulation responsibilities over many matters concerning the TLD.
31
https://archive.icann.org/en/tlds/
32
A Brief History of the Domain Name. https://mashable.com/2014/03/10/domain-names-history/
33
New Generic Top Level Domains https://newgtlds.icann.org/en/about/program
34
Each applicant was required to pay a $185,000 evaluation fee, which was intended to recover the costs
involved in running the New gTLD Program.
Neustar
(1996)
Connected to
over 250
registrars
globally
Afilias
(2000)
DNS for
over 25
TLDs
PIR
(2002)
Offers
over 3000
domain
extensions
Nixi
(2005)
2 million
.IN
registered
since
2005.
DotAsia
(2008) 37,000
applications
received, over
95% success
rate, 0 record
of disputes
New TLDs
(2013)
Net4India (1985)
500,000 direct
customers over
100,000 websites
hosted
GoDaddy (1997)
17 million
customers
Name Cheap (2000)
Manages 10 million
domain names
Hover (2008)
Information
missing here.
Big Rock (2010)
Enabled over 6
million websites
9
significance. This has expanded business opportunities for both registrars and registries
across the globe.
The rest of the paper is organized as follows. Section 2 discusses the global trends in the
domain name industry. Section 3 focuses on the domain name market in India. Section 4
analyses competition in India’s domain name market using Porter’s Five Forces Framework.
Section 5 concludes.
2. Global Trends in the Domain Name Industry
With the Internet and its several applications gaining preeminence in our daily lives, thepast
decade has witnessed an explosive growth in the number of businesses and individuals
desirous of owning a personal webspace. Thousands of startups are incorporated every year; a
large proportion of them sport an online presence. Nearly two-thirds of small businesses rely
on websites to connect with customers. At the beginning of 2018, nearly two-thirds (64%) of
small businesses have a website
35
. The data by Eurostat showed that the percentage of
enterprise owning a website varies from 94 % in Denmark to 47% in Romania (See figure 2.1
below) in European countries
Figure 2.1: Cross country comparison (percentage of enterprises owning a website)
(2018)
Source: Eurostat
36
In India, domain names are still an underpenetrated market. Only about 30% small and
medium enterprises (SME) in India are online
37
. There is, however, growing consciousness
among businesses about the benefits of going digital. Not just India, developing countries in
general, are hubs for Internet services of the future. With developed country markets rapidly
35
Visual Object Survey. https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2388863-
1&h=1953702719&u=https%3A%2F%2Fvisualobjects.com%2Fweb-design%2Ftop-web-designers%2Fsmall-business-
websites-2019&a=Visual+Objects
36
Eurostat; http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=isoc_ciweb&lang=en
37
Ming. C (2017). Google wants to get more Indian businesses online,
CNBChttps://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/09/google-wants-to-get-more-indian-businesses-online.html
0
20
40
60
80
100
Belgium
Bulgaria
Czechia
Denmark
Germany
Estonia
Ireland
Greece
Spain
France
Croatia
Italy
Cyprus
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Hungary
Malta
Netherlands
Austria
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovenia
Slovakia
Sweden
United Kingdom
Norway
Serbia
Turkey
Bosnia and…
Percentage of Enter[prise
Owning a Website
10
saturating, the domain name players are turning their attention towards relatively
underpenetrated markets in developing countries.
As the global Internet ecosystem evolved, there was an observable growth in the number of
internet users and domain name counts. The rise is almost simultaneous as one drives the
growth of the other. Figure 2.2 captures the growth patterns in Internet users and domain
registrations across the globe since 2001
38
.
Figure 2.2: Growth in internet users and domain name count across the globe
(in percentage)
Source: Verisign DNIBs, Zooknic, Internet World Stats, Statista
As per the domain name stats, domain name counts were recorded to be 408.5 million across
all top-level domains (TLDs) in May 2020. ccTLDs accounted for 37 % of the total
registrations (149.6 million). Figure 2.3 below provides the regional distribution of domain
counts. As of December 2019, North America leads the pack with 134 million gTLDs,
followed by Asia, Australia and the Pacific with 49 million and Europe with 28 million.
Appendix 1 provides the details of this calculation and the composite list of gTLDs across
each region.
38
It is to be noted that not all the registrations are the new. There are renewals. When the domain names are
registered, they are registered for certain number of years. In order to continue using the domain names
beyond its expiry date, one needs to renew them. Therefore, the number of domain name registrations
presented in figure 2.2 provides a composite mix of both renewals and the new domains registered by the
registrants.
-10
0
10
20
30
40
50
Growth in internet users and
domain name count across the
globe
Internet Users Domain Name Count
11
Figure 2.3: Domain Count (gTLDs) per Region as of December 2019
39
Source: ICANN Contractual Compliance Performance Report
2.1 Top Level Domains (TLD)
Top Level domains (TLDs) comprise country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) such as .uk
(United Kingdom), .in (India) and .ca (Canada) and generic top level domains (gTLDs) such
as .com, .org, .gov. and .net. While anybody can register general domains such as .net, .org or
.com; .sponsored domains such as .mil (United States Department of Defense and its
subsidiary or affiliated organizations) and .gov (restricted use by government entities in the
United States) are available only for certain types of institutions. As of May, .com, .net, .org,
.edu, .gov, .int .mil, and .arpa are the top preferred domains by registrants. Amongst gTLDs,
.com and .net continue to be market leaders. They have a combined total of approximately
183.9 million registrations
40
as of May 2020. . Figure 2.4 provides the combined number of
registrations under.com and .net over time.
39
Unknown in the graph means: Domain name counts are not always identifiable with respect to region.
Some TLDs have restrictions, such as document verification and reactive occasional checks. According to
ICANN rules, when buying a domain, a registrant necessarily agrees to enter an obligation to provide and
maintain their current address. However, as per registrants’ experiences, in reality, these checks are not
always made. There is a risk of not providing a factual address in the event of a dispute, or if a competitor
files a complaint. However, most domain holders reportedly do not face this issue.
40
The domain name base is the active zone plus the number of domain names that are registered but not
configured for use in the respective Top-Level Domain zone file plus the number of domain names that are
in a client or server hold status.
69079
49361310
28875721
660485
134818150
75867
0
20000000
40000000
60000000
80000000
100000000
120000000
140000000
160000000
Domain Name count (gTLDs) per region
as of December 2019
12
Figure 2.4: Combined registrations on .com and .net (in millions)
Source: VeriSign 2010-2019 briefs up untilQ4 2019.
The count for ccTLD registrations was approximately 149.4 million. Table 2.1 provides the
share of top 10 ccTLD registrations as on May 2020.
Table 2.1: Top 10 ccTLDs Registrations as on May 2020
ccTLDs Domain names
ccTLDs registrations (% share)
.tk (Tokelau)
12.86%
.cn (China)
12.50%
.de (Germany)
8.96%
.uk (United Kingdom)
7.20%
.ru (Russian Federation)
5.09%
.ga (Gabon)
2.87%
.fr (France)
2.78%
.cf ( Central African Republic)
2.73%
.nl (Netherlands)
2.56%
.eu (European Union)
2.51%
Source: Domain Name Stats https://domainnamestat.com/statistics/tldtype/country
For new gTLDs, recorded registrations were 62 million as on May 2020
41
, accounting for
approximately 15% of the total TLDs
42
. The popular new gTLDs as stated by domain name
stats are .info
43
.top, .xyz, .icu and .loan. However data provided by nTLD showcases the top
five popular domains to be .icu, .top, .xyz, .site and .online
41
https://ntldstats.com/tld
42
The new gTLD registration recorded on nTld stats were 34, 889,359.
43
While .info is categorized as new gTLD in Domain Name Stats. new gTLD stat doesn’t categorise it as a
new gTLD.
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Combined registrations on .com
and .net (in millions)
13
The success of. top is often attributed to its positioning as an easily recognizable name,
making it the natural choice for a businesses' online presence. “.xyz” is positioned as a
domain that cuts across the three generations and brings a perception of finality. In addition,
to market positioning and building brand appeal, new gTLDs build popularity by giving
discounts and promotional offers that attract first time registrants. Figure 2.5a and 2.5b
provides the share of new gTLDs as of August 2019. The top three registrars selling new
gTLDs are Alibaba Cloud Computing Ltd, Namecheap Inc and GoDaddy.com.Their share in
the market for new gTLDs is13.73%, 11.61% and 10.03 %,respectively.
Figure 2.5a: New gTLDs: percentage share as on May 2020
Source: Domain name stats. https://domainnamestat.com/statistics/tldtype/new (Data is compiled on
May 26
th
)
Figure 2.5b: New gTLDs: percentage share as on May 2020
Source: nTLD Stats. https://ntldstats.com/ ( Data is compiled on May 26
th
)
11.94%
11.30%
7.05%
6.92%
5.71%
4.60%
3.66%
3.53%
3.07%
2.62%
39.58%
.info .top .xyz .icu .loan .biz .club .site .online .wang Others
18.80%
10.50%
9%
5.90%
4.50%
4%
3.90%
3%
2.10%
2%
35.30%
.icu .top .xyz .site .online .vip .wang .club .shop .live others
14
There seems no doubt that businesses and institutions find clear impact on brand building and
marketing with registered websites. The returns on their investment from registering a
domain and designing a website are also impacted by the choice of TLD. A domain registered
on (.org) for instance represents an important organization ;(.co) represents a forward-
thinking startup, etc
44
. TLD helps business or purpose categorization, even before users visit
the website. Domain names help organisations create and promote a company’s identity on
the Internet. The popularity of a TLD depends on the perception that it is able to create
among users and the way it is positioned in the market. It is also largely driven by
promotional offers that registries provide to popularize their domain.
Growth of domain names in mature markets such as the US are beginning to plateau as the
market has reached high levels of penetration and several businesses are already online.
However, there is a potential for growth in the global domain name market from the Asia
Pacific region including India. The launch of International Domain Names (IDNs) that
feature non-Latin alphabets are particularly important to this region given the extensive use
of non-Latin scripts such as Chinese, Devnagari, Cyrillic, etc. that enables users to
communicate in their own language. The growth and potential of the Indian domain name
market is discussed in Section 3.
3. Domain Name Market in India
On the back of a vibrant Internet ecosystem in India, thrives a rapidly growing domain name
market. Domain name registrations counts in India recorded a total of 5 million in May
2020
45
. In the absence of a centralised system for data collection, statistics on the domain
name market are available from multiple sources, often different from each other.
Registrations in India, however, account for only 1.24 percent of the global market.
46
. The
popularity of “.com” is also observable in India. As a legacy TLD it commands almost 51%
of the domain name market in India. Stakeholder discussions revealed that .com and .in are
the first and second most preferred domain names respectively in India as was also concluded
from the survey results analysed in section 4.The top 3 TLDs in India include .com, .in and
.org with their respective share being 50.68%, 31.14% and 4.41% respectively. The other
preferred TLDs include .net, .xyz, .online etc. The market share and rankings of TLDs change
over time, even though the top choices have always remained .com and .in. The primary
reason for this order of preference to change among the lower ranked TLDs is promotional
offers and discounts offered by registries and registrars. Appendix 2 provides the complete
list of TLDs share in India.
44
Miler. D (2017). What are the five most common domain extensions and which one should I use?
https://www.godaddy.com/garage/what-are-the-five-most-common-domain-extensions-and-which-one-
should-i-use/
45
Domain Name Stats https://domainnamestat.com/statistics/country/IN
46
Domain Name Stats; https://domainnamestat.com/statistics/registrar/others
15
Figure 3.1: Percentage share of Top 10 TLDs in India as on May 2020
Source: Domain Name Stats; https://domainnamestat.com/statistics/registrar/others
The top three new gTLDs are .xyz and .online and .ooo. Provided by Infibeam, the
“.ooo” new gTLD is positioned for entities entering or expanding an e-commerce business or
multichannel operators that sell products both online and offline. The success of “.ooo” can
be attributed to the marketing strategies adopted by Infibeam. A “. ooo” domain registered
today can be renewed at an annual charge of Rs 1699 for the next ten years. With every new
registration, registrants are given over $100 worth free add-on services including email
account, DNS management and access to the bulk tools that make registrations, transfers and
renewals easy.
47
On the other hand, “.xyz” is a new generation of domain names which is
short and easy to remember and recognizable
48
. “.xyz” is a bold, fresh choice for users who
crave creativity and versatility in a domain name. Table 3.2 provides the market share of the
top 10 new gTLDs in India.
Table 3.2a: new gTLDs registartions in India percentage share
new gTLD
% Share
.xyz
22.43%
.online
19.01%
.tech
6.99%
.club
5.16%
.site
5.03%
.live
3.98%
.store
2.87%
.website
2.52%
.space
2.50%
.world
1.96%
Others
27.60%
Source: nTld Stats. https://ntldstats.com/country/IN
47
https://medium.com/@dottripleo/desired-website-domain-name-free-ooo-the-power-domain-bc32f878d07c
48
https://www.name.com/domains/xyz
50.68%
31.14%
4.41%
2.72%
1.29%
1.21%
1.18%
1.14%
0.72% 0.62% 4.89%
.com .in .org .net .xyz .online .co .info .ooo .club Others
16
Despite the growth in domain name registrations, India is still far behind several countries in
overall domain penetration ratio. Defined as the number of domains per 1000 Internet users,
the domain penetration ratio in India is 1.12%, compared to China which sits at 3.3% and the
US at 38%. Moreover, domain registrations are concentrated
49
in a few states. Maharashtra,
Delhi/ NCR, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka account for 50% of the total registrations; states
where Internet usage, online businesses and startups are thriving. Moreover, there are
relatively fewer registrants who actively use their domain names when compared to
developed and other developing countries. A report by dataprovider.com analysed 260
million domain registrations and found that only 1 million (57.9%) of those had
developed
50
websites. Of these 57.1% were used by businesses and 39.8 % as personal
websites. Of the developed websites, about 2.1% websites are used by e-commerce platforms
and 1% for blogging
51
. Interestingly, a significant proportion of registered domains continue
to remain undeveloped (in this sample 42.1%). This reflects the lack of meaningful utilization
of domain names by registrants in India. Table 3.3 below provides a summary of domain
names registered by different registrars and the proportion of those on which websites are
available and of those with developed websites that host meaningful content. For instance, of
the 556,496 domains registered by Publidomainregistry.com(PDR), 82% have a website but
only 66% have developed their websites
52
. The proportion of developed websites is the
lowest for Net4India.
Table 3.3: Registrar-wise Percentage of Domains with (Developed) Websites
Registrars
Domains
Available
Developed
(PDR)
556,496
454,411(82%)
29,471(66%)
Godaddy.com, IIC
526,572
409,131(78%)
240,648(59%)
Bigrock solutions Ltd
207,540
175,765(85%)
92,232 (52%)
Endurance domains technology
201,703
162,002 (80%)
97,838 (60%)
Net4India limited
103,172
85,591(83%)
40, 263(47%)
Net4India
58,545
47, 193 (81%)
16,479(35%)
Tucows.inc
47,599
31,580 (66%)
25,087(79%)
Network Solutions, IIc
43,914
35,649(81%)
18,743 (53%)
Enom, inc.
41,788
27,408 (66%)
17,557 (64%)
Crazy domains fz-IIc
35,477
27,820(78%)
16,375 (59%)
Name.com, inc.
33,243
15,381 (46%)
10,742 (70%)
Go daddy, IIc
32,723
26,715 (82%)
6,215 (23%)
Wild West domains, IIc
21,643
15,874 (73%)
11,628 (73%)
Dynadot IIc
16,372
7,482 (46%)
2,832(38%)
NIXI holding account
16,135
11,974( 74%)
2,086 (17%)
Source: dataprovider.com
49
India Domain Name Report 2018; Zinnov https://zinnov.com/india-domain-name-report-2018/
50
A developed website is a website which contains real, manual created content. Developed websites are
good for renewals.
51
India Domain Name Report 2018; Zinnov https://zinnov.com/india-domain-name-report-2018/
52
dataprovider.com
17
However, improved network availability and access to smartphones has changed the nature of
digital consumption in the country. India presents a huge opportunity for the domain name
market as online businesses trickle down to Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Some of these trends are
discussed in the section below.
3.1 Future growth drivers of the Domain Name Industry in India
3.1.1 Smartphone adoption, high internet penetration and growth in data
consumption provide foundation for growth
The digital ecosystem in India has transformed dramatically with a steep rise in Internet
subscription and data use. The disruptive entry of Reliance Jio in September 2016, brought
down data prices fromRs from Rs. 180 per GB in September 2016 to Rs. 6.98 per GB
in 2019.
53
.The total number of Internet subscribers increased to 687 million in the quarter
ending September 2020
54
. The latest data from Cisco’s VNI index indicates that the total
number of Internet users in India is likely to reach 907 million by 2023
55
. The pace of
progress indicates that 2023 could see 2.1 billion networked devices and 6.5 Exabyte’s of
data used per month in India
56
. Much of this growth will be fueled by massive consumer
adoption of smartphones, Internet of Things (IoT) and use of machine-to-machine (M2M)
connections. Internet in India is expected to deliver US$ 250 billion by 2020, contributing up
to 7.5 percent to GDP
57
. The smartphone industry in India is a growing market with around
39 percent of mobile phone users expected to own a smartphone by 2019. As per e-marketer
forecasts the number of smartphone users in India is expected to grow by close to 16% this
year—the highest growth rate for any country in the world
58
. The spiraling sales of
smartphones coupled with an increase in Internet penetration will drive the use of mobile-
value added services (M-VAS) such as browsing, gaming, social networking, online
shopping, location-based services, etc. The overall growth of the Internet ecosystem will be a
positive driver for the domain name industry in India. The expected growth in available
digital infrastructure and its use is captured in Table 3.4 below.
53
TRAI performance Indicator Report
54
Ibid.
55
CISCO’s Virtual Networking Index. Available at
https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/m/en_us/solutions/executive-perspectives/vni-forecast-
highlights/total/pdf/India_Internet_Users.pdf
56
Ibid.
57
BCG-TiE Report, 2017; https://media-publications.bcg.com/BCG-TiE-Digital-Volcano-Apr2017.pdf
58
eMarketerhttps://www.emarketer.com/chart/218240/smartphone-users-penetration-india-2017-2022-
millions-change-of-population
18
Table 3.4: India’s Digital Economy
2016
2022
CAGR
(2016-2022)
Percentage of individuals from the total population using social
media applications on a monthly basis
12.7
26.2
12.90%
Percentage of individuals from the total population using a
smartphone on a monthly basis
19
31.3
8.70%
Percentage of individuals from the total population using the
internet on a monthly basis
22.3
36.2
8.40%
Average internet connection speed in Kbits/s
3,168
4,995
7.90%
Number of fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
1.3
1.3
0.20%
Source: Compiled from Statista, based on IMF, World Bank, UN and Eurostat
3.1.2 Growing online commerce
Proliferation of the Internet has also supported growth of e-commerce in India. According to
IBEF, the e-commerce market in India is expected to touch US$ 150 billion by 2022.
According to Forrester’s Online Retail Market HI 2017 report, online retail sales in India are
likely to reach $64 billion by 2021 at a compounded annual growth rate of 31.2%. While,
40% of FMCG purchases in India are likely to be online by 2020.
59
Technology giants are
rapidly expanding their footprint in India through online advertising. The Indian unit of
Google is said to have crossed the billion-dollar sales milestone in 2017.
60
In fiscal 2017,
Facebook also posted a 93% increase in its India turnover. E-commerce companies
61
are one
of the major drivers of domain names in India. These forecasts suggest that increased focus
on online commerce will drive the growth of the domain name industry in years to come.
3.1.3 Growing small and medium business (SMBs)
Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs), in particular startups are a fast-growing segment in
the digital economy. New businesses adaptto the digital model because it minimizes the cost
of startup infrastructure. India is now home to ten unicorns,
62
and studies indicate that the
rapidly growing startup ecosystem could produce at least 50 more in the future
63
. The digital
unicorns include Flipkart, Snapdeal, Hike, Ola, Shopclues, Paytm and Zomato. According to
a NASSCOM report, more than 1,200 startups came up in 2018, including eight
59
Shah. G (2018), “Rise in digital economy creating FMCG 2.0”;
https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/re-tales/rise-in-digital-economy-creating-fmcg-2-0/3012
60
Malviya.S & Anand .S (2017); Google India hits Rs 7,208.9 crore sales
mark https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/internet/google-india-hits-rs-7208-9-crore-sales-
mark/articleshow/61695169.cms
61
Tofler (2018). Facebook India Online Services Financials For FY Ending 2017.
https://www.tofler.in/blog/uncategorized/facebook-india-online-services-financials-for-fy-ending-2017/
62
Unicorns are start-ups valued at over $1 billion
63
Karnik. M & Madhura. B (2017), “How many Indian unicorns are actually going to make money?”, Quartz
India, https://qz.com/950672/after-mu-sigma-and-inmobi-how-many-indian-unicorns-are-actually-going-to-
make-money/
19
unicorns,thereby increasing the total number of startups to 7,200 s.
64
The report also states
that the tech–influenced SMBs would increase from 55% in 2017 to 90% in 2020. India is
witnessing a rapid rise in the B2B tech startup landscape, focused on verticals like healthtech
and fintech. These will be the potential users and drivers of the domain name industry in
India.
3.1.4 Government Initiatives
The flagship “Digital India” programme seeks to hasten the adoption of digital services that
will in turndrive growth of the domain name industry in India. Connecting rural areas with
high-speed Internet networks and improving digital literacy are other steadfast aims of this
national program. In the last couple of years, a concentrated effort towards inclusive growth
in electronic provision of services, through initiatives like the JanDhan, Aadhaar and Mobile
(JAM) trinity has produced discernable impact. Payments facilitating programs such as UPI
and BHIM have also made significant progress. Currently, India has approximately 1.5
million kilometers of laid Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) and over 170,000 operational common
service centers to enhance the internet usage
65
. Increased government focus through the
Startup India program and other facilitating regulations will also drive growth of the domain
name industry in India.
3.1.5 Favourable demographics and a burgeoning middle class
A young middle class is among the first adopters of the Internet in any country. A population
dominated by such demographics is likely to see quick Internet adoption. According to
National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), India's middle-class population
is anticipated to grow from 267 million in 2016 to 547 million individuals in 2025-26. Also,
India is likely to have the world’s largest workforce by 2027, with a billion people aged
between 15 and 6. This emerging cohort of young trainable individuals with buying power is
much more likely to embrace the digital world compared to the previous generation. There is
evidence of young workers preferring to use digital media versus traditional options
66
.
Businesses with an online presence are thus the future. With more individuals and businesses
engaging in the digital ecosystem, the domain name industry is also going to flourish.
The following chapter provides insights from the enterprise and individual survey conducted
in the Indian market to derive an understanding of the consumer’s preferences of the domain
name and services that are being offered by registrars in India. For the purpose of this study
we have focused on the registrar and registrant market. The dynamism between the registries
and registrars are not explored.
64
NASSCOM : https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/startups/newsbuzz/startups-in-india-see-108-
growth-in-funding-in-2018-nasscom/articleshow/66365422.cms?from=mdr
65
Digital India Unlocking the Trillion Dollar Opportunity November 2016.
https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/in/Documents/technology-media-telecommunications/in-
tmt-digital-india-unlock-opportunity-noexp.pdf
66
The Deloitte Global Millennial Survey 2019, Optimism, trust reach troubling low levels.
https://www2.deloitte.com/global/en/pages/about-deloitte/articles/millennialsurvey.html#info
20
4. Insights from the Enterprise Survey on the domain name industry in India
Split into an enterprise edition and an individual edition, this survey covered both categories
of registrants to build an exhaustive understanding of the consumer layer of the domain name
value chain. This survey elicited notable trends in usage patterns, industry priorities, and
market perceptions, and also delved into currently underutilised, yet high potential, categories
such as Internationalised Domain Names (IDNs). Preferences for traditional gTLDs are also
gauged vis-à-vis ccTLDs. Valuable policy insights can be gleaned through this survey’s wide
range of questions, which we have incorporated into our policy recommendations.
4.1 Enterprise survey
4.1.1 Sample description
In the enterprise edition of the domain name market survey, the sample of 204 enterprises
consisted of largely private sector firms. At an average age of around 16.1 years, this
constituted a relatively young sample of firms with only a very few outliers. In terms of
revenue, 120 of the 204 enterprises (58.9% of the overall sample) fit the Government of
India’s revised 2018 definition of a micro enterprise (those with revenues of up to INR 5
crore). Of these, 30 have revenues of less than INR 1 crore, while 90 have revenues between
INR 1 crore and INR 5 crore. 49 firms can be classified as small enterprises (24% of the
sample), while 26 are medium enterprises (12.75% of the sample). Overall, this means that
95.6% of our sample consists of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which is not
surprising given that there are approximately 63.4 million MSME units across India (CII
2019)
67
. They contribute around 6.11% of India’s manufacturing GDP, and 24.63% of the
GDP from service activities, as well as 33.4% of the country’s manufacturing output
68
.
67
CII (2019). Micro, Medium & Small Scale
Industry.https://www.cii.in/Sectors.aspx?enc=prvePUj2bdMtgTmvPwvisYH+5EnGjyGXO9hLECvTuNuX
K6QP3tp4gPGuPr/xpT2f
68
Ibid
21
Figure 4.1a: Enterprises in the sample by revenue
Figure 4.1b: Enterprises in the sample by revenue
Moreover, it is crucial to focus on MSMEs in the context of understanding the challenges and
opportunities of India’s domain name industry. This is because most large enterprises with
revenues of over INR 250 crore (4.41% of our sample) are far more likely to have a
substantial focus on registering a domain name and having a viable online presence. The
incentives and capacity for registering domain names, as well as the wherewithal to make an
informed business decision to optimise marketability and relevance through appropriate
TLDs, is significantly lesser for MSMEs vis-à-vis large enterprises. The next phase of growth
in domain name registrations, as well as in opting for new gTLDs and ccTLDs, lies in the
MSME sector. Furthermore, given the nature of the client base of Indian MSMEs, as well as
the fact that around 20% of them are based in rural areas (CII 2019), IDNs possess enormous
potential given that local languages are spoken and understood more than English in non-
16%
48%
14%
13%
9%
Less than 10 10 to 50 50 to 100 100 to 500 More than 150
15%
44%
24%
13%
4%
Less than INR 1 crore INR 1-5 crore INR 5-75 crore
INR 75-250 crore More than INR 250 crore
22
urban areas. Figures 4.1 A and B juxtapose the revenue-wise breakdown of our sample vis-à-
vis the size of its employee base.
Therefore, given the degree of MSME presence in our sample, it is not altogether surprising
that there is an almost one-to-one correlation between the revenues of the enterprises and the
size of their workforces. This is illustrated in Figures 4.1 a and b. The sectoral distribution of
the enterprises in the sample is depicted in Figure 4.2. IT and IT enabled services such as
business process outsourcing (BPO) command the pole position at around 30% of our
sample, followed by manufacturing, electronics and engineering, which forms 22% of the
sample. Other services include consulting that formed around 20% of our sample. Beyond
these three buckets the other sectors included travel, transportation and hospitality (8%);
banking, financial services and insurance, retail, consumer packaged goods and distribution at
6% share each; and life sciences and healthcare at 4%. Communications, media and
publishing accounted for 3% of the sample; and energy, resources and utilities were at 1%.
Figure 4.3: Enterprises’ reasons for using a domain name
Among those in the sample who used their domain name for redirecting, 59 redirect to a
social media platform page such as Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, while 43 redirect to a
marketplace or directory listing like Indiamart, OLX, or Amazon. Meanwhile, 39.2% of the
sample had registered more than one domain name, while 59.3% did not
69
. Data on the year
of domain name purchase, and the year of purchase of the domain name of primary usage
utilised (in the event of multiple domain name purchases) were analysed. On the basis of this,
it was found that on an average, the firms purchased their domain name 10.7 years ago (in
approximately 2008-09).
69
The remaining 1.5% did not respond to this question
Website
13%
Email
0%
Website & Email
55%
Redirecting
1%
Redirecting &
Website/Email
31%
Website Email Website & Email Redirecting Redirecting & Website/Email
23
Figure 4.4 represents the frequency of particular TLDs) registered by the enterprises in the
sample. The undisputed leader of the pack is .com with 154 respondents having registered the
most popular gTLD globally. This was followed by.in, with 67 respondents having registered
the .in ccTLD(less than half the number of .com registrations). Of the 154 enterprises who
registered a .com TLD, 31 registered a .in TLD as well. .in does not appear to be adequately
popular among firms vis-à-vis .com. These were followed by .info at 16 registrations, .org at
15, .net at 11, .biz at 2, and others at 1, while .asia and .mobi were not registered by any of
the firms.These results run against enterprise preferences, which tilt heavily towards .in
(explained further below).
Respondents were asked to state their preference of a .in TLD over other TLDs. 64.2% stated
that they did prefer .in over others, while only 19.1% answered negatively and 15.7% might
consider buying “.in” domain. This is indeed encouraging for the .in ccTLD, since it
highlights that enterprises are desirous of a .in TLD, however, for certain reasons the uptake
does not behove such a high degree of preference. The most popular reason for preferring the
.in TLD was found to be that it reflected that the activity or business location is in India (123
respondents), followed by the familiarity of .in among people and its easy recognisability
(101). Meanwhile, 70 believed that .in is a trusted TLD, 47 assessed its price as affordable,
and 25 considered it having a resale value.
Figure 4.4: Top level domains registered by enterprises
Apart from .in, the most preferred TLD was, naturally, .com with 177 respondents noting
their preference, followed by .net at 60, .org at 53, and .info at 39, while 4 had not thought
about their preference and 1 preferred .asia. Again, for selecting this second-most preferred
TLD after .in, a similar distribution of reasons to preferring this choice was observed with
reference to the reasons for preferring .in as the first choice. However, there was one
important difference, with the most popular reason for the second choice being people’s
familiarity with the TLD and recognisability (at 162), trumping the TLD being most suitable
for the business or activity (149). Trust was valued by 97, affordability by 18, and resale
value by 17 respondents.
0
67
15
11
154
0
2
16
1
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
.asia .in .org .net .com .mobi .biz .info Other
Frequency of registering TLD
24
4.1.2 Preference for Registrars and Packaged services
A majority of the enterprises (157) purchased their registered domain name from a registrar
company such as GoDaddy, Bigrock, or NET4India, while 23 bought it from a web
developing company or individual. 14 purchased it from a web hosting company, 8 from
other sources, and none from a reseller. GoDaddy emerged as the most popular registrar to
purchase a domain name, with 107 firms having purchased their domain name there,
followed by BigRock (33), NET4India (15), and others (11)
70
. While 63.2% of the sample
had bought their registered domain name bundled with additional services such as web
hosting, SSL certificate, and website maintenance services, as a package, 36.3% did not
buy package.
Those that bought their registered domain name as a package considered “best price offers”
being provided (104) as the reason to purchase from the domain name seller. This was
followed by the reputation of the brand (88), and recommendation by friends or colleagues
(72). 41 considered the free provision of the domain along with other services purchased
from the company as important,while 36 considered seeing an advertisement by the company
(36) as their reason to opt in. This was followed by a lack of awareness of any other sellers
(33 respondents), and ultimately, being approached by an agent of the company (25).
Figure 4.5 illustrates the most popular additional services purchased along with the domain
name as a package by enterprises in the sample. Web hosting emerges as the most frequent
additional service purchased (119), followed by email hosting (78), search engine
optimisation (SEO) and online marketing at 55 each, SSL certificate (52), and voice over
internet protocol (VOIP) at 39.
Figure 4.5: Additional services purchased by enterprises along with domain name in a
package
70
Of the 11 respondents who bought their domain name from ‘other’ registrars, 2 respondents stated that this
registrar was WISNIC.
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
Web hosting VOIP SEO Email hosting SSL certificate Online
marketing
Frequency of additional
service being purchased as
part of a domain name package
25
Of those respondents who did not purchase their registered domain name bundled with
additional services as a package, 41 purchased their additional services from a different
seller. The most prominent reason for this was recommendation by a friend or colleague (39
respondents), followed by the domain name seller not providing the required services (19
respondents) and brand reputation of the different seller (19 respondents). This was followed
by being offered the best package of services by the company (15 respondents).Being
approached by an agent of the company (12 respondents), and a lack of awareness about
alternatives (4 respondents) were relatively lesser prominent reasons.
4.1.3 Pricing
Our analysis of domain name pricing elicited several notable trends. Data on the price at
which firms purchased their registered .com domain name peaked at INR 499, when only the
domain name was purchased. If the .in domain name was purchased individually, a very mild
peak was observed at the INR 499 price point. Similarly, for .in, the price at which a domain
name was purchased as part of a package peaked at INR 999. In the event the .com domain
name was purchased as part of a package, very mild peaks were observed at the INR 499,
INR 599, and INR 999 price points. The renewal fee for a .in domain by itself peaked at INR
500 on an average, while for .com, the price peaked at INR 499, and to a lesser degree, at
INR 799 and INR 999. As part of a package, renewal fees for .com witnessed very mild peaks
peaked at INR 599, INR 899, and INR 999 price points, while no such significant trend
appeared for .in renewal fees.
The facility of changing the designating registrar company for a domain, often to take
advantage of a lower price while retaining the domain name and other services with the
newly designated registrar, is known as domain name transfer. 67.6% of the respondents were
aware of it, while 31.8% were not. Quality of services were identified to be the most
important factor affecting the decision of firms to transfer their domain name, followed by
customer support, integration of services with a single seller, pricing of additional services
and renewal fee.
4.1.4 Awareness on New gTLDs and Internationalised domain names (IDNs)
Quasi-experiments were built into the survey design at pertinent junctures. Figure 4.6 below
shows that the number of new generic TLDs (new gTLDs) that respondents recognised
without being informed that the options are new gTLDs. Out of a total of 204 respondents,
nearly 60% could recognise at least one new gTLD. As per Figure 4.6 below. online was
most recognized new gTLDs followed by. store,. website , .tech , .sire, .club , .xyz, .today and
.ooo. 38 respondents didn’t recognised any of the new gTLDs. Upon being asked whether
they are aware of new gTLDs, 58.8% of the sample responded in the negative. This implies
that while individual new gTLDs may well be recognised, it is not necessarily the case that
firms are aware of them being categorised as new gTLDs.
26
Figure 4.6: Enterprises’ recognition of new gTLDs
Similar findings were observed in case of internationalised domain names (IDNs). This is a
worrying result and implies that firms are rather oblivious of the existence of IDNs, despite
their transformative potential in the long run. However, it is not entirely surprising given the
substantially low proportion of IDNs in the overall TLD landscape. IDNs comprise 2% of the
world’s domains and have consistently comprised approximately 2% of overall domain name
registrations (IDN World Report 2018)
71
. Of the 52 respondents who did know about IDNs,
only 1 had ever purchased an IDN.
4.2 Individual survey
4.2.1 Sample description
The sample of 246 individuals surveyed comprised 55 from Mumbai, 10 from Kolkata, 20
from Hyderabad, 115 from Delhi, 15 from Chennai, and 31 from Bangalore. The average age
of the respondents was 37.2 years, comprising 80.5% male and 19.5% female. It consisted of
18.3% self-employed or independent individuals, 58.9% professionals, 11.8% private sector
employees, 2.4% retired individuals, and 8.5% students. Monthly incomes are represented in
Figure 4.7. Around 4% of the sample earned less than INR 20,000 a month, while 8% earned
between INR 20,000 and INR 40,000. The bulk of the sample earned between INR 40,000
and INR 80,000 (34%) and between INR 80,000 and INR 2,00,000 (37%). Only 8% earned
more than INR 2,00,000, while 9% reported no source of income.
71
World Report on Internationalized Domain Names (2018), https://idnworldreport.eu/
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
.ooo .club .store .online .xyz .website .tech .site .today None of
the above
Frequency of recognition of new gTLD
27
Figure 4.7: Distribution of monthly incomes of individuals in the sample
4.2.2 Individual behavior
Out of the 246 respondents, most had a domain name registered (223), while only 1 did not
due to a lack of need to have a domain name, and 20 did not have one yet but planned to
register in future. Among those who did have a domain name registered, as well as those that
planned on registering one, most (226) were using or intended to use their domain names for
professional purposes for their own businesses. 11 were using or intended to use domain
names for personal reasons, while 8 were using them professionally for reselling purposes.
Specific usage of domain names by individuals is illustrated in Figure 4.8. Most individuals
use domain names for website and email services (41%), while 27% use it only for their
website. 21% use their domain name for redirecting, as well as website and email services,
and only 11% use it solely for email. None were found to use their domain name only for
redirecting services. Of those who use domain names for redirecting, 52 redirected to a social
media platform page, and 23 to a marketplace or directory listing.
Figure 4.8: Individuals’ reasons for using a domain name
27%
11%
41%
0%
21%
Website
Email
Website & Email
Redirecting
Redirecting & Website/Email
4%
8%
34%
37%
8%
9%
Less than INR 20,000 Between INR 20,000 and INR 40,000
Between INR 40,000 and INR 80,000 Between INR 80,000 and INR 2,00,000
More than INR 2,00,000 No source of income
28
An overwhelming majority, 239 of the 246 respondents, had registered only one domain
name, while only 7 had registered more than one. Figure 4.9 shows which TLDs have been
registered by individuals. Unsurprisingly, the most registered TLD was found to be .com. 70
% of the respondent registered .com, followed by .in at 26%, .net at 3%, and .org at 1%.
Based on available data for the year of domain name purchase along with the year of
purchase of the domain name
72
, it was observed that on an average the individuals purchased
their domain name 7.5 years ago (in approximately 2011-12).
In terms of individual preferences, 85.4% of the sample preferred the .in TLD over others,
while 10.6% did not. 3.6% indicated that they might consider registering .in over other TLDs.
Of those who did prefer .in over other TLDs, 200 of them felt that .in reflected the presence
of activity or business in India. 171 felt that people are familiar with the .in TLD, 125
believed that it was the trusted TLD, 82 felt it is affordable and 71 believed it to be having
resale value.
Apart from .in, .com emerged as the most preferred TLD for 77.6% of the respondents,
followed closely by .info at 56.5%. Of the 177 individuals who registered a .com TLD, 6
registered a .in TLD as well. Further, 33.7% of the sample preferred .net, 22.4% preferred
.org, .mobi and .asia were preferred by 6.9% each. Only 2.4% of the sample did not have a
TLD preference. On similar lines from their preference for .in, the most important reason for
their second preference was that that particular TLD was most suitable for their business or
activity (190 respondents), closely followed by the familiarity and concomitant
recognisability of the TLD with people (148 respondents). 53 people considered the
trustworthiness of their second preference as most important reason, while 27 considered it to
be affordable. 9 respondents believed that the TLD’s resale value was the most important
determinant of their second-best preference
72
Primarily used domain name has been considered in the event of multiple domain name purchase,
29
Figure 4.9: Individual registrations of TLDs
4.2.3 Preference for Registrars and Packaged services
An overwhelming majority of the individuals (220) purchased their registered domain name
from a registrar company such as GoDaddy, Bigrock, or NET4India, while 9 bought it from a
web developing company or individual. 7 purchased it from a web hosting company
73
, 8 from
other sources, and only 1 from a reseller. Of those who bought their domain name from a
registrar, most went with GoDaddy (146), while 50 purchased it from BigRock, and 23 from
NET4India
74
.
While 47.1% of the sample had bought their registered domain name bundled with
additional services such as web hosting, SSL certificate, and website maintenance services,
as a package, 51.6% did not. Those that did buy their registered domain name as a package
considered best price offers being provided (86) as the reason to purchase from the seller.
This was followed by the reputation of the brand (83), recommendation by friends or
colleagues (49), a lack of awareness of any other sellers (18), free provision of the domain
along with other services purchased from the company (17), seeing an advertisement by the
company (15), and a suggestion by the web developer (1). Figure 4.10 illustrates the most
popular additional services purchased along with the domain name as a package by
enterprises in the sample. Web hosting emerges as the most frequent additional service
purchased (107), followed by email hosting (48), voice over internet protocol (VOIP) and
SSL certificate at 29 each, search engine optimisation (SEO) at 23, and online marketing at
15.
73
The Web developing companies and hosting companies highlighted in the responses were B2Web, BSNL, Trans
Infosolution, Excellent Solution India, JH Technologies, B2Web, Domain Wala, Arya Systems, and Hostgetter.
74
Other registrars individuals purchased their domain names from included Inmotion Hosting, Namebio, iPage, Blue
Host, Hosting Raja, and Reseller Club.
26%
1%
3%
70%
.in
.org
.net
.com
30
Figure 4.10: Additional services purchased by individuals along with domain name in a
package
Of those respondents who did not buy their registered domain name bundled with additional
services as a package, 61 bought their additional services from a different seller, while 107
did not. The most prominent reason for doing so appeared to be recommendation by a friend
or colleague (63 respondents), followed by the domain name seller not providing the required
services (39 respondents), brand reputation of the different seller (29 respondents), being
offered the best package of services by the company (8), lack of awareness about alternatives
(3), and being approached by an agent of the company (2).
4.2.4 Pricing
Data on the price at which individuals purchased their registered .in domain name peaked at
INR 500, when only the domain name was purchased. Similarly, if the .com domain name
was purchased by individuals, twin peaks were observed at the INR 499 and INR 999 price
points. In the event the .com domain name was purchased as part of a package, the most
common price point was observed to be INR 999, while no such significant trend was
observed for .in. The renewal fee for a .in domain by itself peaked at INR 500 on an average,
while for .com, twin peaks were observed at INR 499 and INR 999. As part of a package,
renewal fees for .com peaked at INR 999, while no such significant trend appeared for .in
renewal fees.
57.3% of the respondents were aware of domain name transfer, while 42.3% were not.
Quality of services were identified to be the most important factor affecting the decision of
individuals to transfer their domain name
75
. This was followed by customer support,
75
Quality of services got an average score of 4.47 out of 5, with 0 being ‘not important’ and 5 ‘most
important’
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Web hosting VOIP SEO Email hosting SSL certificate Online
marketing
Frequency of additional service being
purchased as part of a domain name package
31
integration of services with a single seller, pricing of additional services, and renewal fee.
The trend in these results are identical to the enterprise edition of the survey
76
.
4.2.5 Awareness on New gTLDs and Internationalised domain names (IDNs)
Quasi-experiments were repeated in the individual edition of the survey at pertinent
junctures. Figure 4.11 shows the number of new generic TLDs (new gTLDs) that respondents
recognised without being informed that the options are new gTLDs. 178 respondents
recognised .online, followed by .website (99), .store (69), .tech (57), .site and .club at 44
each, none of the above (34), .today (16), .xyz (11), and .ooo (1). Out of a total of 246
respondents, nearly 72.4% could recognise at least one new gtTLD. Upon being asked later
whether they are aware of new gTLDs, 76% of the sample responded negatively. This implies
that while individual new gTLDs may well be recognised, it is not necessarily the case that
individuals are aware of the nomenclature.
Figure 4.11: Individuals’ recognition of new gTLDs
Similar but far more pronounced was the case with IDNs. Merely 21.9% of the individuals in
the sample were aware of internationalised domain names (IDNs), despite being explained
that they are TLDs in a non-Latin script in the subtext of the question. This follows identical
results from the enterprise edition of the survey and is, once again, a worrying result. It
implies that individuals are largely oblivious of the existence of IDNs. Of the 54 respondents
who did know about IDNs, not even a single individual had ever purchased an IDN.
The low base of domain name penetration in India and the industry drivers discussed above
are positioned to drive growth of domain names. However, to help this industry achieves its
76
customer support (4.26), integration of services with a single seller (4.19), pricing of additional services
(4.12), and renewal fee (3.89).
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
.ooo .club .store .online .xyz .website .tech .site .today None of
the
above
Frequency of recognition of new gTLD
32
maximum potential, marketing strategies of registries and registrars have to be well aligned.
Given the global nature of the industry, a constant benchmarking of best practices adopted by
registries and registrars across the world will also be helpful. An analysis of competition
issues in the market will help delineate the role of different stakeholders and help design
policy that best determines the roles of all stakeholders including ICANN for welfare
enhancing outcomes.
5. Competition Analysis in India’s Domain Name Industry
The promotion of competition is necessary for an industry to be economically efficient,
deliver growth and improve consumer welfare. In case of India, which witnessed deregulation
and privatization of industries in the early 1990s, competition policy became important to
monitor and control the growth of big private sector players. Competition policy can also
include other policy objectives such as the integration of national markets, promotion of
small and medium size businesses, job creation, etc. The rapidly evolving domain name
market in India has seen a steady rise in the number of registries, registrars and resellers that
drive the supply side. While several stakeholders have entered the market, there have also
been prominent exits among registrars and several resellers have shut shop. The ability of
players to enter and exit the market is an indicator of competitiveness and is applicable
universally. The domain name market in India is deeply layered. Besides registrars, there is a
distribution network of resellers and registrants. A priori, the market seems to be competitive.
There are a large number of buyers and sellers, although a centralized database reporting the
exact number of domain name registrations is absent. This is important for market analysis
and is one of the policy recommendations of the study. The data presented in Section 3 and
findings from our survey does indicate market dominant positions of a few registries (.com,
.in) and registrars (PDR, Go Daddy), but that is insufficient to infer abuse. We use Michael
Porter’s Five Forces framework for an assessment of competition in India’s domain name
industry
77
. Porter’s model consists of five forces that individually and together determine the
‘attractiveness’ of a market by analysing competitive intensity. For the purpose of our
analysis we focus on registrars, with registries as suppliers of domain names and registrants
as buyers of domain name. A discussion on the distribution layer of resellers is also
integrated in the outline of the five forces. An illustration of the Porter’s Five Forces Model is
provided in Figure 5.1 below.
77
Porter. M. (1998). “Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors,” First free
press edition , ISBN 0-684148-7
33
Figure 5.1: Porter’s Five Forces Framework
Source: Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors
5.1 Competitive rivalry
The ability of firms within an industry to predict and respond to competitor strategy is an
indicator of healthy competition. An increase in competitive rivalry among existing firms
brings an industry closer to the theoretical “perfect competition” state. India’s domain name
industry consists of 362 registrars
78
registrars selling domain names in India and in other
countries. However, as with other major industries a few of them are dominant. According to
various reports, Big Rock, GoDaddy, Bluehost, ZNetLive, Hoster Gate, Net4 India are among
the big players selling TLDs
79
. Even the registration of new gTLDS are led by two key
registrars – Go Daddy and PDR-who between them control about 80 per cent of the market
share in this category. The data from webhosting info in table 5.1 a shows that the top three
registrars selling gTLDsin India include PDR Ltd, Net4India and Big Rock with PDR having
78
https://ntldstats.com/country/IN
79
https://www.updatedreviews.in/blog/item/43-best-domain-registration-services-buy-cheap-domain-names
34
domain registration share of 96%. Registration of new gTLDs are led by two key registrars –
Go Daddy and PDR-who between them control about 80 per cent of the market share in
this category.
Table 5.1a: List of Top 10 Registrars selling gTLDs in India
Registrars
Domain Registration
% share
PDR Ltd. d/b/a PublicDomainRegistry.com
352081
95.67
Net 4 India Limited
10787
2.93
BigRock Solutions Ltd
2567
0.7
Znet Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
1360
0.37
Web Werks India Pvt. Ltd d/b/a ZenRegistry.com
999
0.27
Click Registrat. LLC dba publicdomainregistry.com
130
0.04
LogicBoxes Naming Services Ltd.
37
0.01
Mps Infotecnics Limited
30
0.01
Ednit Software Private Ltd.
4
0
Anytime Sites LLC.
1
0
Source : Webhosting.info https://webhosting.info/domain-registrar-statistics/country/IND
Table 5.1b: List of Top 10 Registrars selling new gTLDs in India as of August 14th ,
2019
Registrars
Domain Registration
% share
PDR Ltd. d/b/a PublicDomainRegistry.com
20,28,59
49.51
GoDaddy.com, LLC (GoDaddy Group)
12,70,98
31.02
Hostinger, UAB
22,143
5.40
NameCheap, Inc.
20,736
5.06
West263 International Limited
8,004
1.95
Name.com, Inc. (Rightside)
6,522
1.59
Key-Systems, LLC (CentralNic Group PLC)
2,428
0.59
NameSilo, LLC
2,376
0.58
Uniregistrar Corp
2,079
0.51
DOTSERVE INC.
1,430
0.35
Source: new gTLD Stats
The core product sold by most registrars is identical. It is impossible to distinguish between a
.com domain sold by Go Daddy or Net4 India. Lesser product differentiation implies higher
rivalry among sellers. From industry data we know that the price of these products varies
significantly. The price differentials are explained by the product differentiation registrars
and resellers are able to create by bundling other services such as web hosting, website
design, etc. along with domain name registration. According to industry experts, since
domain names have low profit margins, value-added services are a differentiating
mechanism. Table 5.2 presents a comparison of bundled offers sold by various registrars.
Even though the components of the bundle might be similar across registrars, the quality of
the bundled services is likely to be different. For instance, GoDaddy offers its starter pack at
Rs 1080, while Big Rock (India server) charges Rs 2388 for similar services. Reseller club
offers its hosting services at Rs 1920, while Host India provides the services at Rs 2999. The
35
details of the plan and design of the services vary across these service providers. At Rs 1080,
GoDaddy provides 30 GB Disk space, unlimited data transfers and 25 sub-domains, at Rs
22388, Big Rock provides 20 GB Disk space, 100GB data transfers with site lock and cord
guard. Similar variations can be seen across other plans. A detailed table is provided in
Appendix 3 of the report. Since profits are ultimately dependent on the price quality mix,
especially the latter, the average service quality has improved over time.
The survey findings in section 4 however has also concluded that besides the value added
services offered by various registrars , the reputation of the brand, recommendation by
friends or colleagues, lack of awareness of any other sellers, free provision of the domain
along with other services purchased from the company, seeing an advertisement by the
company and a suggestion by the web developer are other factors that affects the registrant’s
choice of buying a domain name from a particular registrar
The presence of resellers; a vibrant distribution layer influences the degree of competition.
Resellers are generally Internet based service providers, either running a domain registration
business as a 'value add' to their core business or in some cases, as their core business.
Resellers acquire products or services through registrars and then resell them to individuals or
businesses. Resellers are also responsible for providing technical support to domain
registrants. The registrars like GoDaddy either themselves offer reseller programs or partner
with resellers to sell domains at premium rates with better profit margins. The presence of
distribution networks helps the registrars in increasing the sales. Resellers often make use of
various promotional offers and special product displays to attract customers. Distribution
networks and their contracts with different registrar’s impacts competition in the domain
name industry.
The extent of exit barriers also determines competition within the industry. For registrars, the
exit barriers are moderate. The firms are forced to compete longer than they would have
liked. While there is a process that registrars require to follow when exiting the domain name
industry, discussion with industry experts revealed that the process is not very tedious (See
Appendix 4 for more details). The ease of exit encourages new players to enter the market,
making the industry fairly competitive.
Finally, the rate of growth in an industry also impacts competition. A slow or moderately
growing industry (most mature industries), will find sellers struggling to survive. In a rapidly
growing industry, firms are able to ride the growth tide and increase profitability. According
to a global industry report, the global domain name industry is expected to grow at a
compounded annual rate (CAGR) of 6.2 percent from 330 million in 2016 to 536 million in
2024. Countries in the Asia–Pacific region are likely to contribute most to this growth. As per
the report, the region is likely to see a rise in registrations - from 89 million in 2016 to 186
million in 2024. India will play a major role in driving this growth, largely on the back of a
substantial subscriber base of Internet users and the startup ecosystem in India. Registrars
will benefit from this huge demand and every player can expect a piece of the pie.
36
Table 5.2: Domain Name Services provided by Various Registrars
Source: compiled from registrar websites
Services
Godaddy.com BigRock Hostinger RESELLER CLUB Net4 NAMECHEAP Siliconhouse Indialinks Hostindia
Total Customers
18.8M 4.7M 29,659,751 200000 (Reseller)
3)
500000 750,000
8)
16000
Domain Registered
78M 6M 24,894,152 5M 350,000 10M
7)
400000
Total Website Hosting
4)
100000 750,000
Data Centre Country
14 C India US
2)
US, UK, Brazil,
Netherlands, Singapore,
Indonesia
US, United Kingdom,
Turkey, India &
HongKong.
5)
7 cities
6)
USA, UK
US, UK, Canada
and India
US (West
Coast), US (East
Coast), US
(Central), UK,
Singapore &
India
Pune
Domain Name
P P P P P P P P P
Subdomain Free* P P P P P P P P P
.in P P P P P P P P P
.net P P P P P P P P P
.com P P P P P P P P P
.org P P P P P P P P P
.biz P P P P P P P P P
.info P P P P P P P P P
.me P P P P P P P P P
.co P P P P P P P P P
Other Services
Easy Site / Wordpress
P P P P P P P P P
PWS (Customization)
P P P P P P P P P
Email Hosting
P P P P P P P P P
Business Email
P P P P P P P P P
SSL Certificates
P P P P P P P P P
Hosting Services
Linux Webhosting P P P P P P P P P
Windows Webhosting P P P P P P P P P
Dedicated Cloud Server P P P P P P P
VPS / Cloud Hosting P P P P P P P P P
Leased Line P
Business Applications P P
VoIP Services
P
Online Marketing
P
✓ ( Digital Marketing
Partners)
(https://www.resellerc
lub.com/partners)
P P
Search Engine Advertising
P
1)
✓
Reseller Program
P P P P P P P P
Affiliates
P P P P P P P P
37
5.2 Threat of new entrant
The threat of new entrants or potential competition is an important tool to discipline markets.
A profitable industry is likely to attract more new entrants, provided entry barriers are low
For a new player to enter the domain name market, it first needs to secure accreditation from
ICANN that includes a list of technical qualifications and financial considerations. The
applicants should demonstrate business capabilities and submit detailed business plans that
reflect ability to function as a registrar. A non-refundable application fee of US $3500 and an
annual renewal of US$ 4,000 is deposited with ICANN. Registrars need to maintain
US$70,000 as working capital to run the business. (See Appendix 5 for detailed explanation
on the process and criteria for becoming an ICANN Accredited registrar). Based on our
interaction with various registrars, we found that the accreditation process is user friendly
and the barrier to entry is extremely low. A reseller with a few years of experience in the
domain name industry can easily enter the market as a registrar. Logicboxes a company
providing ICANN consulting services also recommends experienced resellers to be
reincarnated as registrars. Resellers may not always wish to move up the value chain. The
compliance burden on registrars is significantly higher than that for resellers. Even within
the registrars, those selling legacy TLDs are relatively less monitored than those selling the
new generation new gTLDs. To become a ccTLD registrar is relatively more cumbersome.
Becoming a registrar for country-code (ccTLDs) involves accreditation from each ccTLD
registries. Many countries including United States, China, United Kingdom have
documentation requirements and/or nexus rules that require registrants to be physically
present within their countries before being allowed to register a domain name. The process
involves verification and validation of documents which ultimately increases the compliance
burden for registrars and their overall cost of operations. The Indian ccTLD Registry NIXI,
however, does not mandate such requirements for domain name registration under the .in
domain.Our interaction with experts however suggests that law enforcement agencies in
India are in favour of stricter policies with a view to boost security of the domestic Internet
ecosystem. As such, if more stringent policies get enforced, the operation cost for registrars
selling .in would increase and impact promotion of .in in the short run.
The role of distribution networks is critical to the success of registrars in any market. Over
time various registrars including GoDaddy, BigRock, PDR, Net4India have been able to
create a market by offering competitive prices, attractive offers and promotions, value added
services, customer service and a strong distribution network. Networks that become captive
to a few sellers can discourage a new entrant. The calculation on economics of a profitable
registrar suggests that a registrar needs about 50000 registrations every year just to break
even. This is if the registrar is selling the .com domain
80
. Without such economies of scale, a
new registrar is unlikely to survive the market. This also implies that any new entrant which
does not have the capacity to scale is not a serious threat to existing players.
80
http://vny.in/technology/icann-accreditation-cost-calculations.html
38
5.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
A supplier’s leverage over the industry value chain helps determine the degree of competition
in any industry. The primary supplier and regulator for registrars are registry operators. Each
TLD is managed by a single registry that is responsible for maintaining necessary records (as
prescribed by ICANN) of all registered domain names within the TLD that it controls. For
each TLD, the registry is its only supplier. For instance, NIXI is the sole registry to provide
the .in domain, while various registrars including Big Rock, Go Daddy, and Net4India sell.
The bargaining power of every registry is high to the extent that these registries are not
competing among themselves. While the market for legacy TLDs is more mature, the
competition in the supplier market of new gTLD is fiercer as each registry tries to create a
niche for itself in the market.
While registries influence the price at which its domains are ultimately registered; in order to
position themselves in the market, new registries often run promotional campaigns where
their domains are sold at discounted rates. These offers are aimed at boosting sales and
expanding reach and recognisability of their TLD. In most cases, registrars have little room to
offer discounts on their own and depend on announcements from registries to extend benefits
to registrants.
Besides having a strong influence on the final price at which domains are sold by registrars
they also control the users of the domain names through individual TLD policies. As
highlighted above, many ccTLD registries, for example, have mandated citizenship or
domestic incorporation as a criterion to register their domains. Such direct restrictions help
ensure that the TLD is representative of the organizations/individuals holding the domain
name. Many gTLDS like .gov, .edu, .mil, etc. also have similar restrictions on their usage as
discussed in the previous sections.
5.4 Bargaining power of buyer
Buyers have the power to demand lower price or higher product quality from industry
producers when the market is sufficiently competitive and sellers are keen to protect/ build
market share.
39
Figure 5.2: Domain Name Universe in India - Split by Key Attached Services
81
Source: Zinnov Report 2018
The buyers (registrants) of domain name have a designated purpose of purchase. From Figure
5.2 we find that while most registrants use domains for developing websites, a large
proportion is also parked for monetisation. The buyers have several registrars and registries to
choose from. The choice set is steadily increasing for registrants. In the survey analysis in
section 4 above, it emerged that the 55% of enterprises used their domain name for both
website and email services, followed by another 31% that, in addition to website and email,
also used their domain names for redirecting services. While 13% of the sample reported the
use of domain name solely for their website.
The buyer bargaining power in this industry is however limited by their lack of awareness on
available domain names and technical know-how to understand the details of the packages
offered by registrars and resellers. While our survey analysis showcased that 67.6%
enterprises and 57.3% individuals were aware about domain name transfers, the
psychological barriers reduce the probability of such transfers
82
even though the processes
for domain transfers are clearly defined and theoretically switching is possible
Registrants tend to get locked into a particular registrar and TLD once registered, since the
time and effort invested in transferring is significantly high. This is especially true for small
businesses, where transfer of domain could risk disrupting business operations and eventually
impact company bottom lines. Table 5.3 summarises the registration, renewal and transfer fee
charged by different registrars. The pricing strategy of registrars varies significantly across
81
About 25% of domains could not be resolved or incurred some errors such as server error or website coding
error.; Percentage represents the service distribution of the overall domain name market on the basis of
analysis of 1.98 Mn domain names in India in 2017
82
Switching costs are the costs that a consumer incurs as a result of changing brands, suppliers or products.
48
11-13%
9-11%
8-10%
< 1% < 1% < 1%
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
% service distribution of overall
domain name market
40
the three types of services. For instance, Net4 India and Big Rock charges Rs 490 and Rs 599
respectively as registration price for .in domain name, while price charged by reseller club is
Rs 490 and GoDaddy is Rs 449 . While GoDaddy is most competitive for first time
registrants, their renewals are fairly high. Price sensitive customers once locked into
GoDaddy doesn’t transfer their domain to another registrar only because it is a few hundred
rupees cheaper.
Table 5.3: Registration, Renewal and Transfer Price charged by registrars for various
domain names (annual price) as on May 28th, 2020
DOMAINS
NET4
India
Reseller
Club
BigRock
GoDaddy
Namecheap
Siliconhouse
Indialinks
Hostindia
Registration Price
.com
833
780
799
499
967.12
875
1135.09
799
.in
490
490
599
449
1044.25
674
1135.09
499
.info
1140
310*
299
219
406.06
562
1135.09
799
.co
1999
740
749
839
834.80
562
3783.63
1999
Renewal Price
.com
833
780
849
1049
1358.05
791.52
1135.09
799
.in
490
490
599
599
1252.95
609.67
1135.09
499
.info
1140
1400
1059
1709
1566.75
1045.14
1135.09
799
.co
1999
1950
1949
2239
2717.62
2215.7
3783.63
1999
Transfer Price
.com
833
780
759
499
897.56
791.52
1135.09
799
.in
490
490
599
599
1045.01
609.67
1135.09
499
.info
1140
1400
1169
599
1566.75
1045.14
1135.09
799
.co
1999
1950
1949
599
2405.33
2215.7
3783.63
1999
Source: collected from registrar website
Renewals are therefore sticky. Buyer choice is influenced by a lot of factors other than price,
such as the quality of value-added services offered, the customer support provided by
registrars and the transfer cost charged. The findings from the survey revealed that quality of
services followed by customer support, integration of services with a single seller, pricing of
additional services, and renewal fee might affect the enterprise and individual decision to
switch to other registrar. Therefore, even if the registrant has to pay a high renewal price, he
might decide to continue services and not transfer to a new registrar. Registrars are able to
earn profits from such renewals. According to the framework, low switching costs provides
high bargaining power to buyers. Since the registrants in the industry can switch registrars,
the latter has power to bargain with registrars. However, the lack of awareness about domain
names and the bundled services provided by registrars make them stick to the registrars they
originally register with, limiting their ability to bargain.
5.5 Threat of substitutes
Domain names provide an online presence to businesses. With the rise of social media
platforms and e-commerce websites, small companies no longer feel the need to register their
own domain and instead piggy back on that of an existing platform/ marketplace to advertise
41
its product or service. Verisign stated in its 2018 annual report
83
that social media platforms
are competitors to its registry services.
Websites help businesses catalogue the range of products and services offeredto potential
buyers at a relatively low cost compared to physical stores. Until recently, websites used to
be the established route for businesses to connect to the burgeoning internet community. This
pattern seems to be changing. Internet users are swarming onto social media platforms, with
several new users joining a platform every day
84
. A study conducted by DigitasLBi for 1,000
adults across 17 countries including Australia, China, UK and USA in 2015 found that
Facebook influenced 52% of online and offline purchases. In India too about 77 % of online
users buy products exclusively on social media
85
. 41% of people on Facebook are connected
to at least one business in a foreign country and 59% of people on Facebook in India are
connected to at least one small and medium business (SMB). These SMBs are turning to
Facebook for their business because they know how to use it: setting up a page is just as easy
as setting up a profile. Additionally, it is an easy and low-cost way to promote the product and
stay connected to customers. As of October 2015, there were around 2 million SMB Pages on
Facebook in India with over 2.4 billion interactions being generated between businesses and
people in the country
86
. Between 2012 and 2016, the number of new women-owned SMB
pages on Facebook in India has increased seven-fold, growing 85% year on year from 2015
to 2016
87
. These platforms are a threat to the growth of the domain name industry.
However, there is no substitute for highly personalized emails. Domain name registration
becomes necessary for a business email address instead of using the general gmail/ hotmail/
yahoo emails. A custom email address conveys a professional image for a business and
indicates legitimacy of the company. From Figure 5.2 we know that registrants in India also
use domains for the purpose of professional email services.
5.6 Summary of Porter’s Five Forces Analysis
The analysis presented in the sections above finds that the domain name industry in India is
fairly competitive. The presence of a large number of registrars and registries along with the
deeply networked reseller market makes the industry attractive for new players. There is
relative ease in the entry and exit of registrars and the market is not yet subject to onerous
regulations. This makes it an attractive proposition for new players, who are vying for a share
of a rapidly growing market in India.
83
Verisign Annual Report, 2018. https://investor.verisign.com/static-files/e8779668-99cc-40b9-99ed-
bd38dd6c33f9
84
About half a million people join Facebook everyday
85
Jain.S (2016). “101 Latest Social Media Facts and Stats from India – 2016,” Social media and digital
marketing blog, https://www.soravjain.com/social-media-facts-and-stats-india-2016
86
Chaturvedi. A (2017), “Small and medium business are advertising on Facebook because it is helping drive
results” , Economic Times . Avaialble at https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/sme-sector/small-
and-medium-business-are-advertising-on-facebook-because-it-is-helping-drive-
results/articleshow/58164385.cms
87
https://www.socialsamosa.com/2017/11/facebook-accelerator-programs-tech-innovation-india/
42
Registries and registrars are tempted to offer promotions and discounts to acquire new
registrations. However, lack of awareness and technical know-how often limits the
registrant’s ability to bargain at the time of renewal. Met with reasonable services, even price
sensitive registrants hesitate to transfer domains given the actual and perceived costs of
switching. Table 5.4 summarizes the analysis where a given factor is ranked as either low,
low to medium, medium, medium to high and high; based on our analysis of how each of
these forces is likely to impact competition. Overall, we could conclude that the level of
competition in this industry is medium-high. While the state of competition can be improved,
it may be adequate to produce efficient outcomes and consumer welfare, at least in the short
term. However, if we segment this market and run the analysis at a particular layer, there
might be evidence of some concentration and abuse. For example, registrants have relatively
less bargaining power for legacy TLDs as compared to new gTLDs.
Table 5.4: Summary of the Competition Analysis using Five Forces
Porter’s
Five Force
Level of
Competition
Summary Analysis
Competition
Rivalry
Low-medium
Large number of registrars but few of them are dominant.
Registration of new gTLDs are led by two key registrars – Go Daddy and
PDR-who between them control about 80 per cent of the market share in
this category.
Core product sold by most registrars is identical; however, value-added
services are a differentiating mechanism.
The exit barriers are moderate ; process is not very tedious.
Threat of
new entrant
Medium
Accreditation process is user friendly and the barrier to entry is extremely
low for ICANN accredited registrars (The compliance burden on registrars
is significantly higher than that for resellers ).
Those selling legacy TLDs are relatively less monitored than those selling
the new generation new gTLDs.
ccTLD registrar involves accreditation from each ccTLD registries.
Documentation requirements and/or nexus rules require registrants to be
physically present within their countries , involves verification and
validation of documents which ultimately increases the compliance burden
for registrars and their overall cost of operations.
Bargaining
power of
supplier
Medium
Each gTLD is managed by a single registry that is responsible for
maintaining necessary records (as prescribed by ICANN) of all registered
domain names within the TLD that it controls.
Competition in the supplier market of new gTLD is fiercer as each registry
tries to create a niche for itself in the market.
ccTLD registries have mandated citizenship or domestic incorporation as a
criterion to register their domains and therefor can control the users of the
domain names through individual TLD policies .
Bargaining
power of
buyer
Low -Medium
The registrants in the industry can switch registrars, the latter has power to
bargain with registrars.
However, lack of awareness about domain names along with bundled
services provided by registrars makes consumers continue with registrars
they originally register with, limiting their ability to bargain.
Threat of
Substitutes
Low- Medium
With the rise of social media platforms and e-commerce websites, small
companies no longer feel the need to register their own domain and instead
piggy back on that of an existing platform/ marketplace to advertise its
product or service.
However, there is no substitute for highly personalized emails. Domain
name registration becomes necessary for a business email address
43
6. Conclusions and Policy Recommendations
The domain name registrations have seen significant growth in India. The enabling
environment provided by government led initiatives that have drastically improved digital
infrastructure and adoption of digital services catalyzed this growth. A rapidly growing
internet user population and a flourishing base of technology-enabled SMBs have helped
India witness a faster growth than most nations in domain name registrations. India may soon
outpace several countries that are at the helm of an advanced digital ecosystem.
According to a Zinnov report, 2018 the number of domain names registered in India
havecrossed the five million mark with Maharashtra, Delhi/NCR, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka
emerging as the top states for domain name adoption. These four States accounted for 50 per
cent of the registered domain names in the country as they also have a higher penetration of
Internet users. .com continues to capture a sizeable share of the Indian domain name market
followed by.in. The industry comprises of large number of registrars and resellers that drive
competition in the industry. While the industry is reasonably competitive, the lack of
awareness among the user community and information asymmetries could hamper this
growth in the future. Further discussion with experts revealed that relevant efforts and
imitative are needed to increase the size of the domain name industry in India
88
. The role of
policy becomes important to create an enabling ecosystem that will help take this growth
forward. Some recommendations for future thinking on the domain name industry are
discussed below:
1. Curate and maintain a robust database of the industry: The lack of reliable and
consistent data on the domain name registrations, registrar shares in the Indian market,
data on transfers and renewal of domain names has been one of the biggest limitations
of the study. A better understanding of the market requires the maintenance of a
centralised database curating various metrics that measure the status and progress of the
industry. This begins with first identifying the necessary metrics, and ensuring a
systematic data collection mechanism. For this purpose, an agency or forum under the
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology with adequate representation from
the industry and other relevant stakeholders could be created. This database can further
be utilized to monitor the industry regularly and publish an annual state of the industry
report.
2. Develop strategies to increase consumer awareness: Despite the rapid rise in
adoption of digital services, a large majority of Internet users are digitally illiterate. This
also spills over into their understanding of domain names and limits their ability to
bargain with sellers as well as use available services to its maximum potential. Digital
literacy programs could integrate a module on domain names.The use and benefits of
domain names must be clearly communicated to businesses. Existing cyber hygiene
initiatives and support programs like the Cyber Swachhta Kendra can include domain
88
A scope of further research is probable in these regards.
44
name awareness to promote responsible use of webspaces. Consumer awareness is not
merely limited to digital literacy issues. Even among niche segments that are involved
in domain name registration, awareness of new generic top level domains was very low.
For instance, in our survey, 76% of individuals, and 58.5% of enterprises could
recognise new gTLDs but were not aware about the nomenclature. The most recognised
new gTLD found in our survey was ‘.online’.
3. Address information asymmetry: Following from the lack of awareness, very often
registrars do not declare complete information on products and services available to a
registrant. A self – governing model among registrars could be advocated to address
such information asymmetry. A regular industry update initiated by an industry
association or a government department could also help address the problem of
information asymmetry.
4. Promote the use of .in: The .in domain is not the most preferred domain name for
businesses and individuals in India. However, it has the potential to be positioned as the
new Internet or the Internet in India. With a well-designed marketing strategy that
focuses on startups, small and medium businesses and even foreign nationals with an
interest in the Indian market could see huge success. The Government through NIXI
should step up its advertising for the .in domain and therefore there is a need to chart
out ways to increase the size of the market and registration in India. This will impact the
growth of overall domain name industry in Inida.
5. Promote geographic TLDs: The Government can promote Indian registries to apply
for geographic top level domains such as .hyderabad, .bangalore etc. While ccTLDs
account for geographic identity, geographic TLDs have the potential to generate greater
brand value and play a key role in shaping identities of communities. Prominent cities
such as Berlin (.berlin), Paris (.paris), New York (.nyc) among others, have their own
TLDs that are being used for promoting tourism, community based activities, social
work etc. Collaboration with state level authorities could be considered to develop a
coordinated campaign with incentives for better regional promotion.
6. Support startups and SMBs: Expanding and supporting tech startup ecosystem and
SMBs is crucial for the future growth of domain name industry. The Government of
India has undertaken several initiatives and instituted policy measures to foster a culture
of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country. Startup India, Make in India, Atal
Innovation Mission (AIM), and Digital India are some of the flagship programs
initiated by the government to enable the adoption of digital services and encourage
entrepreneurship in India. However, the execution of some of the initiatives is slow.
Even after more than a year of launching the Startup India initiative, the startup creation
process remains challenged and the pace of funding remains slow
89
.There are a number
89
Dutta.D. (2017). “What Indian Startups Really Want From The Government”, Huffington
post,https://www.huffingtonpost.in/diksha-dutta/what-indian-startups-really-want-from-the-
government_a_22494548/
45
of challenges for Indian startups, from the stage of incorporation through the stages of
raising capital, hiring resources, scaling up and making an exit. There is a need to
address such bottlenecks to minimise failures and ensure that the startups graduate to
becoming scaleups. Startups and SMBs are the demand driver of the domain name
industry and hence a concentrated effort in supporting startups and SMBs is important.
7. Promote domain names in local language: While proficiency in the
English language reflects an aspirational quotient for many Indians, a new wave of
Internet users in the country isopting to access the internet in their native languages.
Only about 12% of India's population is familiar with English. According to a report by
Google and KPMG India published in April 2017, there were 234 million Indian-
language internet users in 2016 while only 175 million are English users
90
, and the gap
between the two groups is expected to widen going forward. The report states that nine
out of ten new internet users between 2016 and 2021 will use local language. This
suggests the need for India to focus on local language domain names. A Neo Brahmi
Script Generation Panel (NBGP) set up under ICANN has already started working on a
proposal to enable website registrations in nine Indian scripts including Bengali,
Devanagari, Gujarati, Gurmukhi, Kannada, Malayalam, Oriya, Tamil and Telugu
scripts. The government should draw out effective strategies to launch and promote
domain names in local languages both in urban and rural parts of the country as and
when they are made available by ICANN. For these domain names to be effectively
utilized, more vernacular content needs to be promoted. The first steps in this direction
could be initiated in government websites and content, particularly in collaboration with
the state level machinery and can easily be an extension of the Digital India
Programme. IDN awareness campaigns, run in public-private partnership mode, would
also be immensely important in improving awareness levels and, over time, result in
higher numbers of Indic IDNs. Our survey results point at an alarmingly low level of
awareness of internationalized domain names (IDNs), with only 25.5% of enterprises
and 21.9% of individuals in our samples knowing about them.
8. Organise an annual domain names conclave: Annual conclaves or conferences
enable stakeholder interactions and provide a platform for ICANN, registries and
registrars to engage in dialogue. These conclaves are important because it allows for
ideas and opinions to be heard in a relatively candid and scholarly atmosphere.
Simultaneously India must increase its participation in international fora to voice
priorities that are unique to India.
90
KPMG-Google report on Indian languages defining India’s internet,
https://assets.kpmg.com/content/dam/kpmg/in/pdf/2017/04/Indian-languages-Defining-Indias-Internet.pdf
46
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49
Appendix
Appendix 1: Domain Name Count (gTLDs) across the regions
gTLD
Africa
Asia/Australia
/Pacific
Europe
Latin America
/Caribbean
North
America
Unknown
Total
AAA
1
1
1
3
AARP
1
4
5
ABARTH
1
1
2
ABB
1
32
1
34
ABBOTT
1
186
1
188
ABBVIE
1
31
32
ABC
1
8
1
10
ABLE
3
1
1
5
ABOGADO
132
168
102
2
404
ABUDHABI
511
1
8
520
ACADEMY
1
1670
9726
11
22280
3
33691
ACCENTURE
1
1
2
ACCOUNTANT
15
137
288
2362
98
2900
ACCOUNTANTS
119
352
1271
3
1745
ACO
314
1
315
ACTOR
71
343
1963
7
2384
ADAC
4
4
ADS
1
1
2
ADULT
200
3070
5691
8961
AEG
1
1
2
AERO
1
7186
4675
11862
AETNA
1
7
8
AFAMILYCOMPANY
1
1
2
AFL
4
78
1
83
AFRICA
5530
1149
5865
10105
4
22653
AGAKHAN
1
1
2
AGENCY
1
3260
11869
2
56019
3
71154
AIG
1
47
48
AIGO
1
1
2
AIRBUS
1
1
1
3
AIRFORCE
21
140
457
9
627
AIRTEL
1
1
2
AKDN
1
1
2
ALFAROMEO
1
1
2
ALIBABA
1
1
2
ALIPAY
1
1
2
ALLFINANZ
972
972
ALLSTATE
1
1
2
ALLY
1
1
ALSACE
2046
95
1448
3589
ALSTOM
1
1
2
AMERICANEXPRESS
1
7
1
9
AMERICANFAMILY
1
1
2
AMEX
1
17
1
19
AMFAM
1
9
10
AMICA
1
2
1
4
AMSTERDAM
17
17491
8594
26102
ANALYTICS
1
3
4
ANDROID
1
1
ANQUAN
1
1
ANZ
4
19
2
25
50
gTLD
Africa
Asia/Australia
/Pacific
Europe
Latin America
/Caribbean
North
America
Unknown
Total
AOL
1
1
2
APARTMENTS
118
894
1
2756
5
3774
APP
41799
75412
626125
4
743340
APPLE
1
23
1
25
AQUARELLE
35
1043
1078
ARAB
1
1
2
ARAMCO
1
2
3
ARCHI
58
1579
959
68
2664
ARMY
43
407
1869
8
2327
ART
8
21817
15152
2
35689
72668
ARTE
1
8
1
10
ASDA
1
1
2
ASIA
2
169091
46170
487
88258
180
304188
ASSOCIATES
158
665
2573
3
3399
ATHLETA
1
1
2
ATTORNEY
46
443
1
6557
9
7056
AUCTION
256
745
1
3440
7
4449
AUDI
1380
1
1381
AUDIBLE
1
1
2
AUDIO
408
2912
2333
5653
AUSPOST
4
54
1
59
AUTHOR
1
1
2
AUTO
28
155
265
448
AUTOS
3
153
195
4
355
AVIANCA
1
1
2
AWS
63
6
69
AXA
1
33
1
35
AZURE
1
13
1
15
BABY
133
519
1279
1
1932
BAIDU
1
1
BANAMEX
1
1
2
BANANAREPUBLIC
1
1
2
BAND
760
2413
1
11533
6
14713
BANK
92
920
3772
2
4786
BAR
1
3398
2021
9
17109
22538
BARCELONA
3
5432
301
4
5740
BARCLAYCARD
4
22
1
27
BARCLAYS
4
120
1
125
BAREFOOT
1
1
2
BARGAINS
103
394
1
2267
3
2768
BASEBALL
1
1
2
BASKETBALL
285
12
16
313
BAUHAUS
5
1
6
BAYERN
8
28137
2650
1
30796
BBC
3
1
4
BBT
1
1
2
BBVA
1
12
1
14
BCG
1
1
BCN
1
1
2
BEATS
1
1
1
3
BEAUTY
1
1
2
BEER
2235
2544
10019
5
14803
BENTLEY
25
1
26
BERLIN
31
44912
4924
1
49868
BEST
5668
20826
60660
87154
BESTBUY
1
1
2
51
gTLD
Africa
Asia/Australia
/Pacific
Europe
Latin America
/Caribbean
North
America
Unknown
Total
BET
1002
3343
18387
2
22734
BHARTI
1
1
2
BIBLE
1
75
1588
33
1697
BID
4
12144
1266
14514
63
27991
BIKE
1
689
5006
1
10537
3
16237
BING
1
21
1
23
BINGO
63
431
2
804
3
1303
BIO
632
8279
7755
63
16729
BIZ
539
378423
347383
2230
906614
1
1635190
BLACK
607
966
2671
49
4293
BLACKFRIDAY
40
685
551
1276
BLOCKBUSTER
1
1
2
BLOG
10430
15686
168500
1
194617
BLOOMBERG
1
74
1
76
BLUE
4127
2392
10332
50
16901
BMS
1
1
2
BMW
123
123
BNPPARIBAS
285
1
286
BOATS
7
88
278
4
377
BOEHRINGER
1
1
2
BOFA
1
1
2
BOM
1
1
BOND
20
48
1
69
BOO
1
1
2
BOOK
1
1
2
BOOKING
1
1
2
BOSCH
1
1
2
BOSTIK
8
1357
1365
BOSTON
12
403
1
13364
2
13782
BOT
36
124
1389
20
1569
BOUTIQUE
227
3062
1
5774
3
9067
BOX
4
2
6
BRADESCO
1
79
91
171
BRIDGESTONE
1
7
4
12
BROADWAY
290
1
291
BROKER
10
413
693
6
1122
BROTHER
6
5
1
12
BRUSSELS
16
7206
710
59
7991
BUDAPEST
1
1
2
BUGATTI
7
1
8
BUILD
151
486
3385
5
4027
BUILDERS
246
587
3
3116
3
3955
BUSINESS
1083
4874
7
45779
3
51746
BUY
1
1
2
BUZZ
364723
21299
44395
84
430501
BZH
1
8649
226
1494
10370
CAB
204
763
1
2012
3
2983
CAFE
1236
2905
3
11863
3
16010
CAL
1
1
CALL
1
1
2
CALVINKLEIN
1
1
2
CAM
346
2074
5631
8051
CAMERA
184
986
1
2973
3
4147
CAMP
342
1603
4
4221
3
6173
CANCERRESEARCH
4
85
89
CANON
44
5
1
50
52
gTLD
Africa
Asia/Australia
/Pacific
Europe
Latin America
/Caribbean
North
America
Unknown
Total
CAPETOWN
1196
67
616
2671
4550
CAPITAL
412
2319
11
12300
3
15045
CAPITALONE
1
1
2
CAR
24
87
230
341
CARAVAN
1
1
2
CARDS
237
1202
1
4520
3
5963
CARE
863
4202
3
18523
4
23595
CAREER
41
477
763
1
1282
CAREERS
244
1770
1
5716
3
7734
CARS
20
76
214
310
CASA
18
229
1932
17553
6
19738
CASE
1
1
2
CASEIH
1
1
2
CASH
1
640
1871
9
11564
3
14088
CASINO
225
1047
1
4416
3
5692
CAT
108
106674
1936
1
108719
CATERING
89
1078
2
2579
3
3751
CATHOLIC
2
4
11
17
CBA
72
1
1
74
CBN
1
5
6
CBRE
1
1
2
CBS
1
8
1
10
CEB
1
1
1
3
CENTER
1
6466
10917
3
24888
3
42278
CEO
388
503
1767
2658
CERN
2
59
1
62
CFA
1
6
1
8
CFD
1
6
7
CHANEL
1
3
1
5
CHANNEL
1
1
2
CHARITY
24
259
1881
1
2165
CHASE
1
18
1
20
CHAT
1990
2353
2
10256
97
14698
CHEAP
195
514
3132
3
3844
CHINTAI
4
1
1
6
CHRISTMAS
68
863
672
1603
CHROME
1
1
2
CHURCH
946
1940
22078
3
24967
CIPRIANI
1
1
2
CIRCLE
1
1
2
CISCO
1
22
23
CITADEL
1
1
2
CITI
1
4
5
CITIC
148
9
157
CITY
6711
5769
4
18950
3
31437
CITYEATS
1
1
2
CLAIMS
86
324
2355
5
2770
CLEANING
127
585
1707
3
2422
CLICK
10326
15364
14282
39972
CLINIC
1255
1740
5181
3
8179
CLINIQUE
1
1
CLOTHING
315
2000
2
9169
3
11489
CLOUD
61292
32538
107708
8
201546
CLUB
3
773662
82055
492
722266
144
1578622
CLUBMED
1
5
1
7
COACH
289
4244
1
12084
4
16622
53
gTLD
Africa
Asia/Australia
/Pacific
Europe
Latin America
/Caribbean
North
America
Unknown
Total
CODES
277
1517
1
9441
3
11239
COFFEE
1157
2696
2
15670
3
19528
COLLEGE
2
214
1199
2463
3878
COLOGNE
1
33
53429
7034
1
60498
COM
46421
28115256
17873976
559145
1.02E+08
27378
1.49E+08
COMCAST
1
1
2
COMMBANK
6
1
7
COMMUNITY
637
3553
2
11294
3
15489
COMPANY
7088
10036
10
50460
3
67597
COMPARE
4
1
5
COMPUTER
182
1622
3873
5
5682
COMSEC
1
1
2
CONDOS
92
271
2
1567
4
1936
CONSTRUCTION
304
1227
2
5822
3
7358
CONSULTING
850
7731
19069
7
27657
CONTACT
1
1
CONTRACTORS
115
534
1
3198
3
3851
COOKING
107
616
1154
4
1881
COOKINGCHANNEL
1
1
1
3
COOL
4260
3764
1
13475
3
21503
COOP
148
7122
959
8229
CORSICA
1580
62
1682
3324
COUNTRY
50
288
642
980
COUPON
1
1
2
COUPONS
33
356
1
3142
3
3535
COURSES
193
351
1539
52
2135
CPA
4
1
5
CREDIT
450
921
5
3643
3
5022
CREDITCARD
45
207
697
3
952
CREDITUNION
16
52
521
5
594
CRICKET
3
161
210
1092
97
1563
CROWN
1
2
3
CRS
1
586
1
588
CRUISE
1
1
2
CRUISES
87
501
1
1602
3
2194
CSC
1
15
1
17
CUISINELLA
4
5
1
10
CYMRU
80
1807
5607
7
7501
CYOU
1
1
2
DABUR
1
8
1
10
DAD
1
1
2
DANCE
302
1502
1
5918
7
7730
DATA
1
1
2
DATE
2
4969
767
7009
90
12837
DATING
68
737
2450
3
3258
DATSUN
3
1
4
DAY
1
1
2
DCLK
1
1
2
DDS
1
1
2
DEAL
1
1
2
DEALER
1
2
3
DEALS
241
1942
2
6525
3
8713
DEGREE
12
107
1
2476
7
2603
DELIVERY
132
970
1
5128
6
6237
DELL
18
4
22
DELOITTE
52
52
54
gTLD
Africa
Asia/Australia
/Pacific
Europe
Latin America
/Caribbean
North
America
Unknown
Total
DELTA
1
1
2
DEMOCRAT
37
137
836
7
1017
DENTAL
520
2258
5210
3
7991
DENTIST
51
459
1
3048
7
3566
DESI
1373
113
484
1970
DESIGN
20
20718
10777
1
77551
109067
DEV
787
21889
159053
40
181769
DHL
31
31
DIAMONDS
106
532
1
1773
3
2415
DIET
214
1166
494
1874
DIGITAL
1
2063
11954
20
30613
3
44654
DIRECT
339
2723
2
9400
3
12467
DIRECTORY
379
1794
3
13780
3
15959
DISCOUNT
79
1647
1
2295
3
4025
DISCOVER
1
101
102
DISH
1
1
2
DIY
1
1
2
DNP
5
3
1
9
DOCS
1
2
3
DOCTOR
241
943
1
4545
3
5733
DOG
297
1780
1
10531
3
12612
DOMAINS
2
324
2024
1
4211
9
6571
DOT
1
1
2
DOWNLOAD
1
824
1013
7056
96
8990
DRIVE
1
1
2
DTV
1
1
2
DUBAI
1
5
6
DUCK
1
1
2
DUNLOP
1
1
DUPONT
1
2
1
4
DURBAN
695
57
407
1116
2275
DVAG
3564
3564
DVR
1
1
2
EARTH
1
455
2917
14149
18
17540
EAT
1
1
2
ECO
1
215
1566
2392
24
4198
EDEKA
59
1
60
EDUCATION
1405
5148
17
18334
3
24907
EMAIL
11428
26059
2
58362
4
95855
EMERCK
10
1
11
ENERGY
282
2453
2
9625
3
12365
ENGINEER
269
593
2957
9
3828
ENGINEERING
1
223
1911
1
4901
3
7040
ENTERPRISES
265
1196
3
5105
3
6572
EPSON
5
1
6
EQUIPMENT
131
1361
1
3703
3
5199
ERICSSON
1
1
2
ERNI
89
1
90
ESQ
1
1
2
ESTATE
547
2042
1
7241
3
9834
ESURANCE
1
146
1
148
EUROVISION
5
1
6
EUS
9088
996
1
10085
EVENTS
885
8361
16785
3
26034
EXCHANGE
348
1727
2
9310
3
11390
EXPERT
717
10345
1
24006
3
35072
55
gTLD
Africa
Asia/Australia
/Pacific
Europe
Latin America
/Caribbean
North
America
Unknown
Total
EXPOSED
65
429
2425
3
2922
EXPRESS
229
1946
1
5279
3
7458
EXTRASPACE
1
9
10
FAGE
1
60
1
62
FAIL
87
760
3046
3
3896
FAIRWINDS
1
4
5
FAITH
23
310
294
3486
99
4212
FAMILY
596
4747
1
16383
9
21736
FAN
346
789
2300
1
3436
FANS
48
614
985
1647
FARM
776
2172
1
14345
3
17297
FARMERS
1
1
2
FASHION
441
2206
6766
4
9417
FAST
1
1
2
FEDEX
1
1
FEEDBACK
13
1450
299
1762
FERRARI
1
1
FERRERO
5
1
6
FIAT
1
1
2
FIDELITY
1
1
2
FIDO
1
1
2
FILM
68
1042
3405
1
4516
FINAL
1
1
FINANCE
1
483
2192
6490
3
9169
FINANCIAL
1
184
758
6
4461
3
5413
FIRE
1
1
2
FIRESTONE
5
1
6
FIRMDALE
48
48
FISH
224
866
2
3653
3
4748
FISHING
121
353
1136
1
1611
FIT
62353
2183
14032
7
78575
FITNESS
391
2053
2
8520
3
10969
FLICKR
1
1
2
FLIGHTS
69
552
2
1664
3
2290
FLIR
1
2
3
FLORIST
96
333
1731
3
2163
FLOWERS
148
747
475
1370
FLY
1
1
2
FOO
1
32
33
FOOD
1
1
2
FOODNETWORK
1
1
2
FOOTBALL
121
1176
1
3515
3
4816
FORD
1
4
5
FOREX
4
102
169
103
378
FORSALE
390
584
5365
7
6346
FORUM
1
1
FOUNDATION
481
2610
2
12396
3
15492
FOX
1
71
1
73
FREE
1
1
2
FRESENIUS
40
40
FRL
11430
2139
13569
FROGANS
4
6
10
FRONTDOOR
1
1
1
3
FRONTIER
1
1
2
FTR
1
1
2
FUJITSU
5
5
1
11
56
gTLD
Africa
Asia/Australia
/Pacific
Europe
Latin America
/Caribbean
North
America
Unknown
Total
FUJIXEROX
1
1
2
FUN
431495
49376
104640
585511
FUND
3538
1821
1
10283
4
15647
FURNITURE
101
559
1
1752
3
2416
FUTBOL
120
714
1
1572
13
2420
FYI
465
1223
13358
3
15049
GAL
5130
104
1
5235
GALLERY
876
3980
4
13435
3
18298
GALLO
1
1
2
GALLUP
1
1
GAME
356
931
1029
2316
GAMES
1118
3214
1
15867
1
20201
GAP
1
1
2
GARDEN
203
604
1864
4
2675
GAY
1
16
17
GBIZ
1
1
2
GDN
9772
289
198512
208573
GEA
11
1
12
GENT
3
3308
316
3627
GENTING
1
3
1
5
GEORGE
1
1
2
GGEE
1
2
1
4
GIFT
1717
1967
2088
5772
GIFTS
157
639
2922
3
3721
GIVES
30
132
1609
8
1779
GIVING
4
1
5
GLADE
1
1
2
GLASS
122
716
2
2638
3
3481
GLE
1
17
18
GLOBAL
1
5213
10211
36362
82
51869
GLOBO
78
78
GMAIL
1
3
4
GMBH
44
15989
1
4807
3
20844
GMO
12
2
1
15
GMX
474
1
475
GODADDY
1
1
2
GOLD
3850
1290
1
4829
3
9973
GOLDPOINT
3
1
4
GOLF
631
1704
2
7829
6
10172
GOO
4
1
5
GOODYEAR
1
1
GOOG
1
122
2
125
GOOGLE
1
37
5
43
GOP
31
1123
1
1155
GOT
1
1
2
GRAINGER
1
4
5
GRAPHICS
285
1526
2
5005
3
6821
GRATIS
103
1876
1
2346
3
4329
GREEN
417
1205
3459
73
5154
GRIPE
13
120
1061
3
1197
GROCERY
1
1
2
GROUP
26761
11343
1
32178
3
70286
GUARDIAN
1
2
3
GUCCI
6
1
7
GUGE
1
1
2
GUIDE
531
3813
1
12417
3
16765
57
gTLD
Africa
Asia/Australia
/Pacific
Europe
Latin America
/Caribbean
North
America
Unknown
Total
GUITARS
58
582
355
995
GURU
2186
7695
3
45942
3
55829
HAIR
1
1
2
HAMBURG
11
21157
1656
10
22834
HANGOUT
1
1
2
HAUS
81
2316
1
3623
7
6028
HBO
1
1
2
HDFC
1
1
2
HDFCBANK
1
1
2
HEALTH
247
1528
10847
53
12675
HEALTHCARE
278
1466
4
7476
3
9227
HELP
2284
6253
6403
14940
HELSINKI
1
1
2
HERE
1
2
3
HERMES
1
4
1
6
HGTV
1
1
2
HIPHOP
57
571
225
853
HISAMITSU
23
5
1
29
HITACHI
17
1
18
HIV
12
1731
181
1924
HKT
1
1
2
HOCKEY
19
286
1
1151
3
1460
HOLDINGS
1
482
1127
2
4412
3
6027
HOLIDAY
253
1696
1
2813
3
4766
HOMEDEPOT
1
1
HOMEGOODS
1
1
2
HOMES
121
619
12233
4
12977
HOMESENSE
1
1
2
HONDA
4
5
1
10
HORSE
100
765
1901
2
2768
HOSPITAL
45
295
1365
3
1708
HOST
3
13725
26985
107970
148683
HOSTING
308
2170
1351
3829
HOT
1
1
2
HOTELES
2
148
150
HOTELS
1
1
2
HOTMAIL
1
18
1
20
HOUSE
925
2717
4
16303
3
19952
HOW
205
1056
5284
2
6547
HSBC
17
1
18
HUGHES
1
1
2
HYATT
1
23
24
HYUNDAI
5
1
6
IBM
4
1
5
ICBC
1
1
2
ICE
1
8
9
ICU
47
3353587
1026825
542806
1
4923266
IEEE
6
1
7
IFM
31
1
32
IKANO
26
1
27
IMAMAT
1
1
1
3
IMDB
1
1
2
IMMO
41
12662
1
3314
3
16021
IMMOBILIEN
9
5563
1297
7
6876
INC
264
290
971
1525
INDUSTRIES
161
1113
2
3206
3
4485
58
gTLD
Africa
Asia/Australia
/Pacific
Europe
Latin America
/Caribbean
North
America
Unknown
Total
INFINITI
3
1
4
INFO
561
371835
1358288
9561
3201458
1
4941704
ING
1
1
2
INK
12
31279
1501
8217
41009
INSTITUTE
527
2420
9
9972
3
12931
INSURANCE
70
169
606
3
848
INSURE
261
595
4254
3
5113
INTEL
1
7
8
INTERNATIONAL
4
1061
8118
27
17077
3
26290
INTUIT
1
1
2
INVESTMENTS
174
974
2
3903
4
5057
IPIRANGA
1
32
1
34
IRISH
12
1024
2746
5
3787
ISMAILI
1
6
1
8
IST
5099
737
3681
57
9574
ISTANBUL
6477
319
2980
68
9844
ITAU
1
8
9
ITV
1
11
1
13
IVECO
1
1
2
JAGUAR
1
3
1
5
JAVA
1
2
1
4
JCB
1
16
1
18
JCP
1
1
1
3
JEEP
1
1
2
JETZT
9
6346
1839
3
8197
JEWELRY
98
549
1
2755
3
3406
JIO
1
5
6
JLL
1
9
1
11
JMP
1
1
2
4
JNJ
1
109
2
112
JOBS
71
2835
43853
1
46760
JOBURG
846
59
459
1675
3039
JOT
1
1
2
JOY
1
1
2
JPMORGAN
1
16
1
18
JPRS
3
1
4
JUEGOS
19
614
174
807
JUNIPER
1
1
2
KAUFEN
15
5019
1418
7
6459
KDDI
3
1
4
KERRYHOTELS
1
1
2
KERRYLOGISTICS
1
1
2
KERRYPROPERTIES
1
1
2
KIA
2
5
1
8
KIM
9671
1174
5596
54
16495
KINDER
5
1
6
KINDLE
1
1
2
KITCHEN
360
1429
2
5282
4
7077
KIWI
5170
1919
7975
15064
KOELN
1
33
53429
7034
1
60498
KOMATSU
31
5
1
37
KOSHER
1
1
2
KPMG
10
1
11
KPN
42
42
KRD
14
462
1
477
KRED
33
7681
7714
59
gTLD
Africa
Asia/Australia
/Pacific
Europe
Latin America
/Caribbean
North
America
Unknown
Total
KUOKGROUP
1
1
2
KYOTO
832
27
17
26
902
LACAIXA
1
1
2
LAMBORGHINI
226
1
227
LAMER
1
1
LANCASTER
7
1580
1587
LANCIA
1
1
2
LAND
943
4418
1
11095
3
16460
LANDROVER
1
3
1
5
LANXESS
1
9
1
11
LASALLE
1
1
2
LAT
136
502
4251
1235
9
6133
LATINO
1
1
2
LATROBE
3
21
1
25
LAW
5928
1225
4785
1
11939
LAWYER
426
929
1
10006
7
11369
LDS
1
1
2
LEASE
46
455
2
1332
3
1838
LECLERC
155
1499
1654
LEFRAK
1
1
2
LEGAL
495
3304
28
9881
3
13711
LEGO
1
1
2
LEXUS
2
5
1
8
LGBT
33
569
1960
87
2649
LIDL
35
35
LIFE
44196
13125
12
142047
3
199383
LIFEINSURANCE
1
1
2
LIFESTYLE
1
1
2
LIGHTING
260
1293
1
4540
3
6097
LIKE
1
1
2
LILLY
1
2
1
4
LIMITED
274
1423
1
3843
3
5544
LIMO
97
378
2
1570
3
2050
LINCOLN
1
2
3
LINDE
1
86
1
88
LINK
26892
45516
22485
94893
LIPSY
1
5
1
7
LIVE
4
43631
376903
308907
11
729456
LIVING
1
1
2
LIXIL
1
5
1
7
LLC
35
493
10494
11022
LLP
5
5
LOAN
6
5536
450
18216
100
24308
LOANS
1
104
426
1
3538
6
4076
LOCKER
1
1
2
LOCUS
1
11
1
13
LOFT
1
1
2
LOL
1382
4602
3207
9191
LONDON
611
9502
37713
3
47829
LOTTE
3
1
4
LOTTO
79
32
86
197
LOVE
17
12039
3295
16729
32080
LTD
232976
5193
1
28006
4
266180
LTDA
202
155
271
100
728
LUNDBECK
1
5
1
7
LUPIN
1
1
2
60
gTLD
Africa
Asia/Australia
/Pacific
Europe
Latin America
/Caribbean
North
America
Unknown
Total
LUXE
14527
598
795
3
15923
LUXURY
9
413
502
1
925
MACYS
1
1
2
MADRID
1987
114
1
2102
MAIF
1
5
1
7
MAISON
41
529
1
450
3
1024
MAKEUP
27
176
26
229
MAN
151
1
152
MANAGEMENT
331
3223
8380
3
11937
MANGO
43
1
44
MAP
1
1
MARKET
2216
3969
14945
7
21137
MARKETING
1075
4189
13
17660
5
22942
MARKETS
56
319
441
99
915
MARRIOTT
1
16
17
MARSHALLS
1
1
2
MASERATI
1
1
MATTEL
1
5
6
MBA
165
499
1
2063
3
2731
MCKINSEY
1
1
MED
1
3
4
MEDIA
2064
9376
39016
3
50459
MEET
1
7
8
MELBOURNE
6593
106
1049
1
7749
MEME
1
1
2
MEMORIAL
24
95
620
5
744
MEN
6293
1097
30357
101
37848
MENU
136
664
4368
4
5172
MERCKMSD
1
1
METLIFE
1
1
MIAMI
66
861
2
8692
6
9627
MICROSOFT
1
79
1
81
MINI
654
654
MINT
1
1
2
MIT
1
3
4
MITSUBISHI
5
1
6
MLB
12
22
34
MLS
1
1
2
MMA
1647
1139
2786
MOBI
336
86791
72619
421
274694
1
434862
MOBILE
1
1
2
MODA
221
788
2
1959
10
2980
MOE
763
1951
6047
34
8795
MOI
4
151
84
20
259
MOM
702
678
981
2361
MONASH
37
4
21
62
MONEY
2
876
1692
1
9771
6
12348
MONSTER
16162
744
38491
5
55402
MORMON
1
1
2
MORTGAGE
26
207
1
3074
7
3315
MOSCOW
24
20138
348
20
20530
MOTO
1
1
2
MOTORCYCLES
1
64
147
5
217
MOV
1
1
2
MOVIE
37
660
1
2586
5
3289
MOVISTAR
1
1
2
61
gTLD
Africa
Asia/Australia
/Pacific
Europe
Latin America
/Caribbean
North
America
Unknown
Total
MSD
1
1
2
MTN
8
8
16
MTR
1
1
MUSEUM
1
567
128
862
1558
MUTUAL
3
1
4
NAB
1
2
1
4
NADEX
1
2
3
NAGOYA
5916
126
251
5
6298
NAME
20
17060
45215
63894
126189
NATIONWIDE
1
1
2
NATURA
1
4
5
NAVY
19
111
692
9
831
NBA
1
1
2
NEC
7
5
1
13
NET
4228
2525100
2264736
47308
8881998
13295
13736665
NETBANK
7
1
8
NETFLIX
1
1
2
NETWORK
2161
7458
3
42632
3
52257
NEUSTAR
34
619
4
657
NEW
64
157
46
267
NEWHOLLAND
1
1
2
NEWS
7237
8737
1
43418
11
59404
NEXT
1
5
1
7
NEXTDIRECT
1
1
2
NEXUS
1
1
NFL
1
2
3
NGO
353
787
2708
50
3898
NHK
3
1
4
NICO
8
5
1
14
NIKE
1
1
2
NIKON
1
1
2
NINJA
693
5380
26475
14
32562
NISSAN
6
1
7
NISSAY
1
1
2
NOKIA
1
3
1
5
NORTHWESTERNMUTU
AL
1
3
4
NORTON
1
1
2
NOW
1
1
2
NOWRUZ
11
1
6
18
NOWTV
1
1
2
NRA
1
131
1
133
NRW
5
18082
1055
1
19143
NTT
10
1
11
NYC
226
4063
39
63454
10
67792
OBI
1
2
1
4
OBSERVER
6
232
713
951
OFF
1
1
2
OFFICE
1
3
1
5
OKINAWA
5302
97
286
1
5686
OLAYAN
3
2
5
OLAYANGROUP
3
2
5
OLDNAVY
1
1
2
OLLO
1
1
2
OMEGA
1
2
1
4
ONE
2595
34025
38032
49
74701
62
gTLD
Africa
Asia/Australia
/Pacific
Europe
Latin America
/Caribbean
North
America
Unknown
Total
ONG
353
787
2708
50
3898
ONL
410
2379
3424
65
6278
ONLINE
1967
483671
361542
2
610757
1457939
ONYOURSIDE
1
1
2
OOO
15319
2593
18883
36795
OPEN
1
1
2
ORACLE
1
2
1
4
ORANGE
1
4
1
6
ORG
4923
845252
1832218
34164
7737003
1
10453561
ORGANIC
577
431
707
4
1719
ORIGINS
1
1
OSAKA
403
179
174
31
787
OTSUKA
14
3
1
18
OTT
1
1
2
OVH
61061
2467
63528
PAGE
203
2128
52551
6
54888
PANASONIC
5
1
6
PARIS
43
19282
2508
1565
23398
PARS
1
1
PARTNERS
376
2075
1
6322
3
8777
PARTS
224
1138
2
4820
3
6187
PARTY
19
5232
3462
11652
99
20464
PASSAGENS
1
2
3
PAY
1
1
2
PCCW
1
1
2
PET
1
2103
1360
7525
98
11087
PFIZER
1
2
1
4
PHARMACY
12
557
9
578
PHD
1
1
PHILIPS
3
20
1
24
PHONE
1
1
2
PHOTO
2297
8468
9431
20196
PHOTOGRAPHY
1555
8536
2
37947
3
48043
PHOTOS
543
4665
4
16881
3
22096
PHYSIO
115
138
933
4
1190
PICS
911
2836
2738
6485
PICTET
7
37
44
PICTURES
218
1861
6601
3
8683
PIN
1
1
2
PING
1
2
3
PINK
2181
847
6226
64
9318
PIONEER
6
5
1
12
PIZZA
170
1278
2
5419
4
6873
PLACE
124
917
2
2873
3
3919
PLAY
1
1
2
PLAYSTATION
5
1
6
PLUMBING
127
317
1
2454
5
2904
PLUS
1
5504
3648
3
8953
4
18113
PNC
1
1
POHL
2
2
POKER
191
919
2357
95
3562
POLITIE
4
4
PORN
326
3598
6844
10768
POST
417
417
PRAMERICA
1
1
2
PRAXI
1
17
18
63
gTLD
Africa
Asia/Australia
/Pacific
Europe
Latin America
/Caribbean
North
America
Unknown
Total
PRESS
13238
3767
23541
40546
PRIME
2
1
3
PRO
28
44204
85408
1498
201198
1
332337
PROD
1
1
2
PRODUCTIONS
249
1365
6432
3
8049
PROF
1
1
2
PROGRESSIVE
1
1
2
PROMO
1526
1737
3421
100
6784
PROPERTIES
474
1175
12414
3
14066
PROPERTY
547
2065
935
3547
PROTECTION
18
74
92
PRU
1
75
5
81
PRUDENTIAL
1
71
1
73
PUB
26052
1605
1
6725
7
34390
PWC
1
1
1
3
QPON
2
88
235
101
426
QUEBEC
102
1598
4889
1
6590
QUEST
4
1
5
QVC
1
1
2
RACING
2
288
727
2406
101
3524
RADIO
10
1898
593
1
2502
RAID
1
1
2
READ
1
1
2
REALESTATE
7
131
19446
21
19605
REALTOR
1
33531
9
33541
REALTY
71
658
1626
2355
RECIPES
1
1343
642
1
4560
3
6550
RED
17935
3100
10555
46
31636
REDSTONE
1
10
11
REDUMBRELLA
1
1
1
3
REHAB
20
288
1462
8
1778
REISE
1
934
1
205
4
1145
REISEN
28
3762
1091
3
4884
REIT
89
28
117
RELIANCE
1
1
REN
20217
25
86
20328
RENT
2
281
1420
2915
4618
RENTALS
432
1302
1
10415
3
12153
REPAIR
185
1161
1
5651
3
7001
REPORT
254
1501
1
5707
3
7466
REPUBLICAN
10
85
761
9
865
REST
2
601
914
19030
20547
RESTAURANT
189
2355
1
5567
3
8115
REVIEW
7
529
1051
11911
101
13599
REVIEWS
453
1486
16689
8
18636
REXROTH
1
7
1
9
RICH
10
24
54
85
173
RICHARDLI
1
1
2
RICOH
19
5
1
25
RIGHTATHOME
1
1
2
RIL
1
1
RIO
818
16
88
922
RIP
85
692
2788
8
3573
RMIT
3
4
2
9
ROCHER
2
1
3
ROCKS
3
2114
15194
1
84851
9
102172
64
gTLD
Africa
Asia/Australia
/Pacific
Europe
Latin America
/Caribbean
North
America
Unknown
Total
RODEO
18
192
420
2
632
ROGERS
1
1
2
ROOM
1
1
2
RSVP
1
1
2
RUGBY
357
10
7
374
RUHR
9437
558
1
9996
RUN
5889
2673
1
11072
4
19639
RWE
1
1
1
3
RYUKYU
1731
48
134
1
1914
SAARLAND
2
2753
1340
4095
SAFE
1
1
2
SAFETY
1
1
2
SAKURA
1
1
2
SALE
1462
2263
1
14959
7
18692
SALON
426
417
1
1876
6
2726
SAMSCLUB
1
1
2
SAMSUNG
4
4
SANDVIK
3
23
1
27
SANDVIKCOROMANT
3
6
1
10
SANOFI
1
6
1
8
SAP
26
1
27
SARL
21
543
1
402
3
970
SAS
1
2
3
SAVE
1
1
2
SAXO
3
61
1
65
SBI
1
24
1
26
SBS
1
1
1
3
SCA
1
1
2
SCB
33
33
SCHAEFFLER
12
1
13
SCHMIDT
4
22
1
27
SCHOLARSHIPS
1
1
2
SCHOOL
1
1045
2815
1
10634
5
14501
SCHULE
11
1982
927
3
2923
SCHWARZ
120
120
SCIENCE
13
2281
2138
9548
98
14078
SCJOHNSON
1
1
2
SCOR
4
1
5
SCOT
623
5777
5315
1
11716
SEARCH
1
1
SEAT
687
1
688
SECURE
1
1
2
SECURITY
5
63
229
297
SEEK
4
1
5
SELECT
4
1
5
SENER
1
42
1
44
SERVICES
2041
9577
5
48494
3
60120
SES
1
3
4
SEVEN
4
5
1
10
SEW
2
10
1
13
SEX
355
3006
4795
8156
SEXY
442
2911
3342
6695
SFR
6
6
SHANGRILA
1
1
2
SHARP
13
5
1
19
SHAW
1
1
2
65
gTLD
Africa
Asia/Australia
/Pacific
Europe
Latin America
/Caribbean
North
America
Unknown
Total
SHELL
21
1
22
SHIA
1
1
SHIKSHA
97
574
798
78
1547
SHOES
213
1514
1
3140
3
4871
SHOP
412830
110493
166567
7
689897
SHOPPING
163
2245
1
4252
3
6664
SHOUJI
1
1
SHOW
3746
1788
1
6776
3
12314
SHOWTIME
1
1
2
SHRIRAM
1
17
11
29
SILK
1
1
2
SINA
1
1
2
SINGLES
40
808
1
2795
3
3647
SITE
233
1191320
329068
2
515085
2035708
SKI
304
2330
2874
90
5598
SKIN
1
8
9
SKY
40
1
41
SKYPE
1
5
1
7
SLING
1
1
2
SMART
25
25
SMILE
1
1
2
SNCF
1
24
1092
1117
SOCCER
70
529
1
2454
3
3057
SOCIAL
1901
2851
9
19787
6
24554
SOFTBANK
4
5
1
10
SOFTWARE
605
3845
2
11843
7
16302
SOHU
1
5
6
SOLAR
228
1348
2
5010
3
6591
SOLUTIONS
2
2093
11609
10
66702
3
80419
SONG
1
1
2
SONY
7
5
1
13
SOY
122
372
3314
2
3810
SPACE
33
128252
94643
9
241315
464252
SPORT
6
8952
198
1
9157
SPOT
1
1
2
SPREADBETTING
1
8
9
SRL
314
3306
2170
100
5890
STADA
100
1
101
STAPLES
1
1
2
STAR
1
1
2
STATEBANK
1
25
26
STATEFARM
1
18
1
20
STC
4
4
STCGROUP
1
1
STOCKHOLM
40
16
101
157
STORAGE
5
74
334
413
STORE
41
115488
67308
164618
347455
STREAM
7
591
922
11304
2
12826
STUDIO
5552
8635
3
39159
6
53355
STUDY
109
223
1131
52
1515
STYLE
3410
1952
6747
3
12112
SUCKS
233
1987
6183
18
8421
SUPPLIES
104
556
1
2521
3
3185
SUPPLY
177
811
4449
3
5440
SUPPORT
2058
6171
3
16748
3
24983
SURF
229
942
5633
3
6807
66
gTLD
Africa
Asia/Australia
/Pacific
Europe
Latin America
/Caribbean
North
America
Unknown
Total
SURGERY
100
345
1412
3
1860
SUZUKI
13
1
14
SWATCH
1
7
1
9
SWIFTCOVER
1
1
2
SWISS
8
16860
1529
1
18398
SYDNEY
6607
109
1313
10
8039
SYMANTEC
1
1
2
SYSTEMS
2
1258
7796
11
21109
3
30179
TAB
4
1
5
TAIPEI
1210
427
219
104
1960
TALK
1
1
2
TAOBAO
1
1
2
TARGET
1
2
3
TATAMOTORS
1
4
1
6
TATAR
923
5
68
996
TATTOO
119
6784
825
7728
TAX
262
1757
1
5455
3
7478
TAXI
244
2661
1
3450
5
6361
TCI
1
1
TDK
1
1
2
TEAM
1
2940
8093
1
17135
4
28174
TECH
79
111009
63094
1
104564
278747
TECHNOLOGY
1003
6029
3
25311
3
32349
TEL
37654
23856
339
35328
219
97396
TELEFONICA
1
1
2
TEMASEK
1
7
1
9
TENNIS
67
592
1183
3
1845
TEVA
21
1
22
THD
1
1
THEATER
28
345
1
982
3
1359
THEATRE
5
23
82
110
TIAA
1
1
2
TICKETS
15
429
449
893
TIENDA
59
1270
1
748
3
2081
TIFFANY
1
1
2
TIPS
606
8890
1
21189
3
30689
TIRES
15
193
777
3
988
TIROL
1
33
53429
7034
1
60498
TJMAXX
1
1
2
TJX
1
1
2
TKMAXX
1
1
2
TMALL
1
1
2
TODAY
6203
7765
1
73722
3
87694
TOKYO
121807
933
3440
10
126190
TOOLS
1
441
3776
3
9317
2
13540
TOP
1
3123129
50605
558907
3732642
TORAY
48
5
1
54
TOSHIBA
2
3
1
6
TOTAL
73
1198
1271
TOURS
1026
1745
1
8776
3
11551
TOWN
324
927
1
2952
3
4207
TOYOTA
7
5
1
13
TOYS
222
943
3640
3
4808
TRADE
30
4822
2066
9811
59
16788
TRADING
47
597
576
92
1312
TRAINING
636
4959
1
14164
3
19763
67
gTLD
Africa
Asia/Australia
/Pacific
Europe
Latin America
/Caribbean
North
America
Unknown
Total
TRAVEL
1250
6350
13450
12
21062
TRAVELCHANNEL
1
1
2
TRAVELERS
1
2
1
4
TRAVELERSINSURANCE
1
1
1
3
TRUST
6
1
7
TRV
1
1
1
3
TUBE
76
2250
2864
83
5273
TUI
5
5
TUNES
1
1
2
TUSHU
1
1
2
TVS
1
1
2
UBANK
1
1
2
UBS
1
1
2
UNICOM
7
2
9
UNIVERSITY
267
1289
10
5417
3
6986
UNO
1
235
771
15345
115
16467
UOL
2
49
51
UPS
1
1
2
VACATIONS
114
738
1
3163
3
4019
VANA
1
1
2
VANGUARD
1
15
1
17
VEGAS
118
1207
13772
30
15127
VENTURES
660
1859
2
11588
3
14112
VERISIGN
1
1
2
VERSICHERUNG
3
1675
143
2
1823
VET
182
1365
5819
7
7373
VIAJES
60
432
3
697
3
1195
VIDEO
6031
3199
14308
7
23545
VIG
12
2
14
VIKING
1
1
2
VILLAS
76
455
1
1322
4
1858
VIN
368
2271
3112
5
5756
VIP
1021792
4231
395024
6
1421053
VIRGIN
4
2
6
VISA
1
1
2
VISION
329
2135
2
4902
3
7371
VISTAPRINT
4
1
5
VIVA
1
1
VIVO
1
34
1
36
VLAANDEREN
4
5598
813
56
6471
VODKA
74
466
1418
2
1960
VOLKSWAGEN
4
1
5
VOLVO
1
1
2
VOTE
45
429
2992
22
3488
VOTING
4
204
101
1
310
VOTO
6
39
292
22
359
VOYAGE
108
1103
1
1514
3
2729
VUELOS
1
89
90
WALES
193
3529
10027
7
13756
WALMART
1
1
2
WALTER
3
16
1
20
WANG
1044487
630
587
1045704
WANGGOU
1
1
2
WATCH
209
1733
1
7994
3
9940
WATCHES
1
1
2
WEATHER
1
1
2
68
gTLD
Africa
Asia/Australia
/Pacific
Europe
Latin America
/Caribbean
North
America
Unknown
Total
WEATHERCHANNEL
1
1
2
WEBCAM
2
176
846
4738
2
5764
WEBER
1
148
1
150
WEBSITE
45
58976
117302
10
190854
367187
WED
38
1
39
WEDDING
521
1566
21139
2
23228
WEIBO
1
1
2
WEIR
1
133
1
135
WHOSWHO
935
85
6
1026
WIEN
1
33
53429
7034
1
60498
WIKI
9
7969
3658
8758
20394
WILLIAMHILL
217
4
221
WIN
12
49999
3805
26258
101
80175
WINDOWS
1
21
1
23
WINE
1475
4335
2
9499
9
15320
WINNERS
1
1
2
WME
4
4
WOLTERSKLUWER
1
1
2
WOODSIDE
4
16
1
21
WORK
1
605340
7496
64091
14
676942
WORKS
1309
3651
16032
3
20995
WORLD
3
32657
15119
4
115136
4
162923
WOW
1
1
2
WTC
4
1
5
WTF
729
2985
13503
4
17221
XBOX
1
56
1
58
XEROX
1
3
4
XFINITY
1
1
2
XIHUAN
1
1
XIN
124351
98
53
3
124505
XN--11B4C3D
1
1
2
XN--1CK2E1B
54
66
26
146
XN--1QQW23A
48
38
23
19
128
XN--30RR7Y
1
1
XN--3BST00M
1999
27
35
2061
XN--3DS443G
37477
2177
581
1
40236
XN--3OQ18VL8PN36A
1
1
2
XN--3PXU8K
1
1
2
XN--42C2D9A
1
1
2
XN--45Q11C
16
25
41
XN--4GBRIM
249
23
100
1
373
XN--55QW42G
44
44
XN--55QX5D
41806
1092
733
5
43636
XN--5SU34J936BGSG
1
1
2
XN--5TZM5G
373
110
232
59
774
XN--6FRZ82G
2350
841
566
68
3825
XN--6QQ986B3XL
15428
44
58
15530
XN--80ADXHKS
1
15086
107
23
15217
XN--80AQECDR1A
3
2
5
XN--80ASEHDB
2
2933
160
1
3096
XN--80ASWG
1131
112
1
1244
XN--8Y0A063A
6
2
8
XN--9DBQ2A
1360
28
1206
15
2609
XN--9ET52U
1
1
XN--9KRT00A
1
1
2
XN--B4W605FERD
1
1
2
69
gTLD
Africa
Asia/Australia
/Pacific
Europe
Latin America
/Caribbean
North
America
Unknown
Total
XN--BCK1B9A5DRE4C
18
34
26
78
XN--C1AVG
375
1688
162
1
2226
XN--C2BR7G
1
1
2
XN--CCK2B3B
3
47
106
26
182
XN--CZR694B
27329
26
112
27467
XN--CZRS0T
434
91
171
2
698
XN--CZRU2D
14175
107
60
14342
XN--D1ACJ3B
972
21
993
XN--ECKVDTC9D
1
1
2
XN--EFVY88H
1
1
XN--ESTV75G
1
1
2
XN--FCT429K
1
35
48
26
110
XN--FHBEI
1
1
2
XN--FIQ228C5HS
12724
2950
299
1
15974
XN--FIQ64B
105
8
113
XN--FJQ720A
43
23
57
2
125
XN--FLW351E
1
1
XN--FZYS8D69UVGM
1
1
2
XN--G2XX48C
3648
37
80
1
3766
XN--GCKR3F0F
29
56
26
111
XN--GK3AT1E
1
1
2
XN--HXT814E
3713
106
52
3871
XN--I1B6B1A6A2E
9
1245
49
1
1304
XN--IMR513N
326
8
19
353
XN--IO0A7I
28922
623
457
17
30019
XN--J1AEF
1
1
2
XN--JLQ61U9W7B
1
1
2
XN--JVR189M
2
16
44
26
88
XN--KCRX77D1X4A
3
8
1
12
XN--KPU716F
1
1
2
XN--KPUT3I
39311
60
1
68
39440
XN--MGBA3A3EJT
1
2
3
XN--MGBA7C0BBN0A
3
3
6
XN--MGBAB2BD
535
37
1
573
XN--MGBCA7DZDO
33
1
3
37
XN--MGBI4ECEXP
3
2
5
XN--MGBT3DHD
1
1
XN--MK1BU44C
4515
122
527
1
5165
XN--MXTQ1M
1
1
XN--NGBC5AZD
94
217
418
9
738
XN--NGBRX
1
1
2
XN--NQV7F
107
1100
125
1
1333
XN--NQV7FS00EMA
1
1
2
XN--NYQY26A
13
14
4
31
XN--OTU796D
243
10
18
271
XN--P1ACF
33171
88
1
33260
XN--PBT977C
1
1
2
XN--PSSY2U
1
1
2
XN--Q9JYB4C
3067
314
931
5
4317
XN--QCKA1PMC
1
1
XN--RHQV96G
485
70
100
23
678
XN--ROVU88B
17
27
26
70
XN--SES554G
125864
833
69
126766
XN--T60B56A
1222
93
148
1
1464
XN--TCKWE
1649
336
2030
1
4016
XN--TIQ49XQYJ
3
2
5
70
gTLD
Africa
Asia/Australia
/Pacific
Europe
Latin America
/Caribbean
North
America
Unknown
Total
XN--UNUP4Y
53
33
93
2
181
XN--
VERMGENSBERATER-
CTB
1
1
XN--
VERMGENSBERATUNG-
PWB
1
1
XN--VHQUV
1882
35
93
2
2012
XN--VUQ861B
1481
1362
70
26
2939
XN--
W4R85EL8FHU5DNRA
1
1
2
XN--W4RS40L
1
1
2
XN--XHQ521B
101
45
22
20
188
XN--ZFR164B
100
100
XXX
4164
14509
25
43011
61709
XYZ
1017
1678380
163554
15
1076896
18
2919880
YACHTS
2
80
178
4
264
YAHOO
1
1
2
YAMAXUN
1
1
2
YANDEX
46
1
47
YODOBASHI
3
1
4
YOGA
1204
1875
8249
3
11331
YOKOHAMA
4025
106
286
9
4426
YOU
1
1
2
YOUTUBE
1
6
7
YUN
1
1
ZAPPOS
2
1
3
ZARA
5
1
6
ZERO
1
1
2
ZIP
1
1
2
ZONE
3041
5138
1
19642
7
27829
ZUERICH
1
1
Total
69079
49361310
28875721
660485
1.35E+08
75867
2.14E+08
Source: ICANN Contractual Compliance Performance Report, December 2019
71
Appendix 2: Top level domain (TLDs) in India as on May 2020
TLD Name
Registerd Domains
Share %
.com
25,62,434
50.68%
.in
15,74,393
31.14%
.org
2,23,212
4.41%
.net
1,37,356
2.72%
.xyz
65,394
1.29%
.online
61,048
1.21%
.co
59,638
1.18%
.info
57,582
1.14%
.ooo
36,461
0.72%
.club
31,548
0.62%
.us
26,052
0.52%
.biz
25,603
0.51%
.tech
17,878
0.35%
.me
15,548
0.31%
.site
14,674
0.29%
.live
11,016
0.22%
.website
9,275
0.18%
.asia
8,698
0.17%
.space
8,120
0.16%
.store
7,450
0.15%
.blog
5,295
0.10%
.uk
5,166
0.10%
.world
5,084
0.10%
.app
4,606
0.09%
.mobi
4,501
0.09%
.shop
4,329
0.09%
.io
3,787
0.07%
.buzz
3,783
0.07%
.life
3,595
0.07%
.today
3,045
0.06%
.icu
2,669
0.05%
.cloud
2,343
0.05%
.pro
1,810
0.04%
.work
1,723
0.03%
.guru
1,333
0.03%
.top
1,233
0.02%
.monster
1,184
0.02%
.news
1,140
0.02%
.ai
1,068
0.02%
.company
904
0.02%
.email
891
0.02%
.shiksha
865
0.02%
.tv
814
0.02%
.best
752
0.01%
.solutions
710
0.01%
.fun
702
0.01%
.win
683
0.01%
.global
682
0.01%
.gdn
632
0.01%
Source: Domain Name Stats
72
Appendix 3: Hosting Services Offered by various registrars as on May 2020
Services
Godaddy.
com
BigRock
Hostinger
RESELLER CLUB
Net4
NAMECHEAP
Silicon
House
Indialinks
Hostindia
Cyber
space
Hosting
Services
(Server
Location)
India
US
Asia and
Europe
(UK)
India
UK
US
India
UK
US
India
US
India
India
Plan 1
Price new^
1080
2388
1788
708
1920
3240
1920
696
3049
1797
4999
8167
2999
33000
Price Renewal
2388
2388
1788
1188
2820
3240
2820
900
4775
3526
6999
8167
2999
33000
Disk Space*
30GB
20GB
20GB
10GB
Unmetered
Unmetered
Unmetered
500MB
20GB
20GB
500GB
1GB
10Gb
3.5Gb
Data Transfer**
Unmetered
100GB
100GB
100GB
Unmetered
Unmetered
Unmetered
Unmetered
Unmetered
Unmetered
2000 GB
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited
No. of Websites
Hosting
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
3
5
1
1
1
Database***
Mysql
Mysql
Mysql
Mysql
Mysql
Mysql
Mysql
Mysql
Mysql
Mysql
Mysql
Mysql
Mysql
Mysql
Domain
1
Sub-Domain
25
2
30
30
Unlimited
Search engine
optimization
Free
cPanel
Free
Free
Free
Free
Free
Free
Free
Free
Free
Free
Free
E-mail
5
5
1
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited
30
30
10
No email
Service
1
One-click staging
site
Easy Website
builder
Free
Free
Free
Free
Website Security
Free
Free
SSL certificate#
3522
Free
Free
free
Free
Free
Free
2100
Free
Free
3999
2500
6499
SSH/SFTP access
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Secure your
Website-
SiteLock#
1188
1188
671.59
815
Free
Free
Backup your
Website-Cord
Guard
1.2
1.2
1999.08
1200
Twice a
week
Domain Parking
2
Unlimited
Unlimited
Plan 2
Price new
2388
3588
2988
1428
3360
4860
4680
1236
4296
3047
6999
18140
Price Renewal
5388
3588
2988
1428
4680
4680
4680
1644
7272
6023
9999
18140
Disk Space*
100GB
Unlimited
Unlimited
20GB
Unmetered
Unmetered
Unmetered
1GB
Unmetered
Unmetered
1000 GB
2Gb
73
Data Transfer**
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unmetered
Unmetered
Unmetered
Unmetered
Unmetered
Unmetered
4000 GB
Unlimited
No. of Websites
Hosting
1
1
1
Unlimited
3
3
3
1
Unlimited
Unlimited
10
1
Database***
Mysql
Mysql
Mysql
Mysql
Mysql
Mysql
Mysql
Mysql
Mysql
Mysql
Mysql
Mysql
Domain
Free
Free
Sub-Domain
25
100
50
Unlimited
Unlimited
Search engine
optimization
Free
cPanel
Free
Free
Free
Free
Free
Free
Free
Free
Free
Free
Free
E-mail
1
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited
5
Unlimited
Unlimited
25
One-click staging
site
Easy Website
builder
Free
Free
Free
Free
Website Security
5508
Free
SSL certificate#
3522
Free
Free
free
Free
3,959
2100
Free
Free
3999
2500
SSH/SFTP access
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Secure your
Website-
SiteLock#
1188
1188
671.59
815
Yes
Backup your
Website-Cord
Guard
1.2
1.2
1999.08
1200
Twice a
Week
Twice a
Week
Domain Parking
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited
Note we have categorized the plans into four categories. Plan 1: includes Starter (Godaddy) / Starter (bigrock) / Single Web Hosting (hostinger) /
PERSONAL (resellerclub) / Starter Hosting (Net4) / Stellar (Namecheap) / NANO (Silicon House) / Starter (India links) / ALP (Hostinida) / Customize
(Cyberspace) and Plan 2 includes Economy (godaddy) / Advanced (bigrock) / Premium Web Hosting (hostinger) / Business (resellerclub) / Medium Business
Hosting (Net4) /Stellar Plus (Namecheap) / Economy (Silicon House) / Elite (Indialinks). Plan 3: Deluxe (godaddy) / Business (bigrock) / Business Web
Hosting (hostinger) / Pro (resellerclub) / Ecommerce Hosting (Net4) / Stellar Business (Namecheap) / PREMIUM (Silicon House) / Deluxe (Indialinks). Plan
4: Ultimate (godaddy) / Pro (bigrock) / Mega Hosting (Net4) / Pro (Indialinks).
74
Appendix 4: Process Registrars has to follow to exit the industry
To exit from the industry, registrars has to give ICANN notice within seven (7) days of
(i) the commencement of any of the proceedings referenced in Section 5.5.8 of the
registrar accreditation agreement
(ii) the occurrence of any of the matters specified in Section 5.5.2 or Section 5.5.3
registry –registrar agreement.
(iii) any unauthorized access to or disclosure of registrant account information or
registration data. The notice required pursuant to Subsection (iii) shall include a
detailed description of the type of unauthorized access, how it occurred, the number
of registrants affected, and any action taken by Registrar in response.
Section 5.5.8 : (i) Registrar makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors or similar act;
(ii) attachment, garnishment or similar proceedings are commenced against Registrar, which
proceedings are a material threat to Registrar’s ability to provide Registrar Services for
gTLDs, and are not dismissed within sixty (60) days of their commencement; (iii) a trustee,
receiver, liquidator or equivalent is appointed in place of Registrar or maintains control over
any of Registrar’s property; (iv) execution is levied upon any property of Registrar, (v)
proceedings are instituted by or against Registrar under any bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or other laws relating to the relief of debtors and such proceedings are not
dismissed within thirty (30) days of their commencement, or (vi) Registrar files for protection
under the United States Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. Section 101 et seq., or a foreign
equivalent or liquidates, dissolves or otherwise discontinues its operations.
5.5.2 Registrar:
5.5.2.1 is convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction of a felony or other serious
offense related to financial activities, or is judged by a court of competent
jurisdiction to have:
5.5.2.1.1 committed fraud,
5.5.2.1.2 committed a breach of fiduciary duty, or
5.5.2.1.3 with actual knowledge (or through gross negligence) permitted
Illegal Activity in the registration or use of domain names or in the
provision to Registrar by any Registered Name Holder of
inaccurate Whois information; or
5.5.2.1.4 failed to comply with the terms of an order issued by a court of
competent jurisdiction relating to the use of domain names
sponsored by the Registrar;or is the subject of a judicial
75
determination that ICANN reasonably deems as the substantive
equivalent of any of the foregoing; or
5.5.2.2 is disciplined by the government of its domicile for conduct involving
dishonesty or misuse of funds of others; or
5.5.2.3 is the subject of a non-interlocutory order issued by a court or arbitral tribunal,
in each case of competent jurisdiction, finding that Registrar has, directly or
through an Affiliate, committed a specific violation(s) of applicable national law
or governmental regulation relating to cybersquatting or its equivalent; or
5.5.2.4 is found by ICANN, based on its review of the findings of arbitral tribunals, to
have been engaged, either directly or through its Affiliate, in a pattern and
practice of trafficking in or use of domain names identical or confusingly similar
to a trademark or service mark of a third party in which the Registered Name
Holder has no rights or legitimate interest, which trademarks have been
registered and are being used in bad faith.
5.5.3 Registrar knowingly employs any officer that is convicted of a misdemeanor related
to financial activities or of any felony, or is judged by a court of competent
jurisdiction to have committed fraud or breach of fiduciary duty, or is the subject of
a judicial determination that ICANN reasonably deems as the substantive equivalent
of any of the foregoing and such officer is not terminated within thirty (30) days of
Registrar's knowledge of the foregoing; or any member of Registrar's board of
directors or similar governing body is convicted of a misdemeanor related to
financial activities or of any felony, or is judged by a court of competent jurisdiction
to have committed fraud or breach of fiduciary duty, or is the subject of a judicial
determination that ICANN reasonably deems as the substantive equivalent of any of
the foregoing and such member is not removed from Registrar's board of directors
or similar governing body within thirty (30) days of Registrar's knowledge of the
foregoing.
76
Appendix 5: Process and capital required to become ICANN –Accredited registrar
a) Process and capital required to become ICANN –Accredited registrar: The process
of becoming an ICANN-accredited registrar includes several steps. The new entrants
needs to fulfill following criteria including :
Qualification: The applicants for initial accreditation should demonstrate business
capabilities including management, communication, and information systems), or
submit information (such as a reasonably detailed business plan) sufficient to show
the ability to develop capabilities by the commencement of operation under
accreditation. Applicants for initial accreditation seeking to demonstrate current
business capabilities meeting the criteria may do so by:
Submitting an independently verified or verifiable description of the applicant's
business, such as audited financial statements or annual reports of companies with
publicly-traded securities.
Applicants for initial accreditation submitting comprehensive business plans to
develop capabilities by the commencement of operation under accreditation may
do so under appropriate assurances by ICANN of confidentiality of the plans
Financial considerations: To become registrars following financial considerations
should be taken into account.
A non-refundable application fee of US $ 3500 needs to be submitted
US$ 4,000 yearly accreditation fee dues upon approval for each year thereafter
Variable fee (quarterly) billed once the registrar begin registering domain names
or, the first full quarter following the accreditation approval, whichever occurs
first. This fee represents a portion of ICANN's operating costs and, because it is
divided among all registrars, the amount varies from quarter to quarter.
Transaction-based gTLD fee (quarterly). This fee is a flat fee charged for each
new registration, renewal or transfer. This fee can be billed by the registrar
separately on its invoice to the registrant, but is paid by the registrar to ICANN.
Additionally, the registrars have to demonstrate that it has adequate working
capital available for the operation of the registrar business, given the registration
volume reasonably projected by applicant. For applicants seeking initial
accreditation, demonstration of the ability to procure liquid capital immediately
available in the applicant's name at the commencement of the accreditation period
in an amount of US$70,000 or more will be deemed adequate, although a lesser
amount will be accepted upon a showing that in the circumstances it will provide
adequate working capital. Evidence of independent verification of the capital
(such as by guaranteed bank loan or by a guaranteed credit line or letter of credit
77
from a recognized financial institution) has to be presented as a condition of
accreditation becoming effective
91
.
Applicants with existing registrar businesses, or proposing to convert their
existing domain-name reseller businesses to registrar businesses, must provide
with the application an independently verified financial statement (such as by an
accountant's audit) demonstrating the amount of working capital available for the
registrar business.
There are additional financial considerations for registrars to do business
with gTLD registries which are provided on the registry websites.
Governing agreement and policies to be eligible for becoming a registrar: The
following agreements and policies govern a registrar’s relationship with ICANN,
the gTLD registry operators, registered name holders and the registrars’ resellers:
Registrar Accreditation Agreement (RAA): this is the contract
between ICANN and the registrar that governs ICANN’s relationship with an
accredited registrar and the terms and conditions of maintaining an accreditation.
Statement of Registrar Accreditation Policy: this explains the qualifications for
becoming an ICANN-accredited registrar.
Registry-Registrar Agreement: for each gTLD the registrar plan to offer to the
customers, registrar will have to enter into an agreement with the responsible
registry. The content of the agreement varies from registry to registry.
Registration Agreement: every registrar shall require all registered name holders
to enter into an electronic or paper registration agreement with the registrar. This
agreement must comply with all the obligations and requirements established
under the RAA.
Reseller Agreement (if applicable): every registrar that enters into an agreement
with a reseller of services must ensure that the agreement includes
the RAA provisions and consensus policies, and is consistent with all
applicable RAA obligations.
Consensus Policies: ICANN's agreements with accredited registrars and
with gTLD registry operators require compliance with various specifically stated
procedures and with "consensus policies" developed in consultation with the
stakeholder community.
91
In cases where an applicant cannot demonstrate that it has access to at least $70,000 in liquid working
capital, the applicant must demonstrate that it has sufficient resources available to meet its business needs in
addition to adequate cash reserves, and that its business model does not require US$70,000 in liquid
working capital for day-to-day operations.
78
Data Escrow Agreement: Under the data escrow provision of the Registrar
Accreditation Agreement (RAA), all ICANN-accredited registrars must regularly
deposit a copy of certain gTLD registration data with ICANN’s designated escrow
agent or, to a reputable escrow agent mutually approved by the registrar
and ICANN. The data shall be held under an agreement among the
registrar, ICANN, and an ICANN-approved data escrow service provider. The
registrar’s obligation to begin depositing data will commence once it begins to
register domain names.
Model Privacy Policy: the model privacy policy assists registrars in preparing
notice to its customers contemplated by Subsection 3.7.7.4
92
of the Registrar
Accreditation Agreement.
92
3.7.7.4 Registrar shall provide notice to each new or renewed Registered Name Holder stating:
3.7.7.4.1 The purposes for which any Personal Data collected from the applicant are intended;
3.7.7.4.2 The intended recipients or categories of recipients of the data (including the Registry Operator and
others who will receive the data from Registry Operator);
3.7.7.4.3 Which data are obligatory and which data, if any, are voluntary; and
3.7.7.4.4 How the Registered Name Holder or data subject can access and, if necessary, rectify the data held
about them.
79
Appendix 6:
Enterprise survey questions:
Indian Domain Name Market Survey
(Enterprise)
This survey is being conducted by the Indian Council for Research on International
Economic Relations (ICRIER) under its research project studying the market for domain
names in India. ICRIER is an independent policy think-tank based in New Delhi, India. The
responses from this survey will be used to analyse different aspects of the domain name
market in India including preferences for various products and services. Your responses shall
remain anonymous and any contact details that you choose to provide, will not be shared or
published.
1. Type of Enterprise
Government/Public Sector
Private Sector
Not for Profit
2. Which sector does your organization belong to?
_________
3. Which year was the organization incorporated?
________
4. What is the annual revenue of the organization?
Less than 1 crore
1-5 crore
5-75 crore
75-250 crore
More than 250 crore
Other (Please specify)
5. How many people work in the organization?
Less than 10
10-50
50-100
100-500
More than 500
6. Do you have a domain name registered?
Yes
No
Not yet but I plan to register
I do not know what a domain name is
If answer is Yes or Not Yet but I plan to register go directly to Question 7
If answer is No go to Q. 6a to finish questionnaire
If answer is I do not know what a domain name is end survey
80
If answer to Q.6 is No
6a. Why don’t you have a domain name registered?
My business is growing well without an online presence such as a website or
customized email service
I think it is difficult to use and maintain a domain name
I am already listed on a platform like Amazon, Facebook, Indiamart, etc.
I don’t feel the need to have a domain name
Other (Please specify)______________
7. What do you use the domain name for?
Website
Email
Website & Email
Redirecting
Redirecting & Website/Email
Other (Please specify __________ )
If answer is Redirecting or Redirecting & Website/Email ask Q.8A before proceeding to
next question
8a. Domain Names are redirected to
Social Media Platform Page (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter etc.)
Marketplace or Directory Listing (Indiamart, OLX, Amazon etc.)
8. Have you registered more than one domain name?
Yes (Please specify number of domain names registered _________)
No
9. Which Top Level Domain(s) (TLDs) have you registered? com, .org, .in are examples
of Top Level Domains(TLDs). It is the last part of the web address in
www.example.com - .com is the TLD
[You may select more than one option]
.asia
.in
.org
.net
.com
.mobi
.biz
.info
Other (Please specify)
81
10. Which year did you buy the domain name?
(If you have bought more than one domain name, please provide the year of purchase
for the domain that you primarily use.)
_________
11. Do you prefer a ‘.in’ Top Level Domain (TLD) over other TLDs? com, .org, .in are
examples of Top Level Domains(TLDs). It is the last part of the web address in
www.example.com - .com is the TLD
Yes
No
Maybe
If Answer is yes, ask Q.11a before proceeding to next question.
12. Apart from .in, which TLD do you prefer the most? com, .org, .in are examples of Top
Level Domains(TLDs). It is the last part of the web address in www.example.com -
.com is the TLD.
[Please select only most preferred one]
.org
.net
.com
.asia
.mobi
.info
I don’t have a TLD preference
I have not thought about this
Other (Please specify)
If the options for preference are selected, ask Q.12a before proceeding to next question.
11a. If yes, why do you prefer the .in TLD?
It reflects that the activity or business is located in India
People are familiar with this TLD and recognize it easily
.in is a trusted TLD
.in has an affordable price
.in has resale value
12a. If yes, why do you prefer the TLD?
This TLD is most suitable for my business or activity
People are familiar with this TLD and therefore recognize it
This is a trusted TLD
This TLD has an affordable price
This TLD has resale value
82
13. Where did you buy your registered domain name from?
A registrar company (eg. GoDaddy, Bigrock, NET4India etc.)
A Web Developing Company/Individual
A Web Hosting Company
A Reseller
Other
Did you buy the registered domain name bundled with additional services as a package?
1. Registered domain name, refers to the domain name that you primarily use
2. Additional services can include web hosting, SSL certificate, website maintenance services,
etc.
Yes
No
If answer is Yes, ask Q.14a and Q.14b proceeding to Question 15.
If answer is No,ask Q.14c and Q.14d before proceeding to Question 15.
IF answer is Registrar Company
13a. Which registrar did you buy the domain name from?
GoDaddy
NET4India
BigRock
Other (Please specify)
IF Answer is Web developing/hosting/other
13b. Can you provide the name and/or contact details of the company/individual you
bought the domain name from?
___________________________________________________________
If answer is Yes, bought as a package
14a. Why did you choose to buy from this seller?
[You can choose more than one option].
This seller had the best price offers
This is a well reputed brand
I got the domain free with other services that I bought from the company
I am unaware about other sellers
This was recommended to me by my friends/colleagues
An agent of this company had approached me
I saw an advertisement by the company
Other (Please specify)
14b. What are the additional services in the package that you bought along with your domain name?
[You can choose more than one option]
Web-hosting
VOIP
Search Engine Optimization
Email Hosting
SSL Certificate
Online Marketing
Other (Please specify)
83
14. At what price did you buy your registered domain name?
(If you have bought more than one domain name, please provide the price of purchase
for the domain that you primarily use.)
a) Only for the domain name
Rs.____________
b) Domain name with the package in case you purchased it as a package.
Rs.____________
15. What is the annual renewal fee for the registered domain name?
(If you have bought more than one domain name, please provide the annual renewal
fee for the domain that you primarily use.)
a) Only for the domain name
Rs.____________
b) Domain name with the package in case you purchased it as a package.
Rs.____________
16. Are you aware of domain name transfer?
Domain name transfer is the facility of changing your designated registrar company
for a domain. For example, I can choose to transfer my domain name from registrar
A to registrar B, if B offers a lower price etc. In this process, I can retain my domain
name and other services with the newly designated registrar B.
Yes
No
If answer is No, not as a package
14c. Did you buy additional services from a different seller
Yes
No
If answer is yes, ask Q14d, and Q.14e.
If answer is no, proceed to Q.15
14d.Why did you buy additional services from a different seller?
[You can select more than one option]
The domain name seller did not provide the service(s) I needed
This is a well reputed brand
I am unaware about other sellers
This was recommended to me by my friends/colleagues
This company had the best package of services
An agent of the company had approached me
Other (Please specify)
14e. What are the additional services that you bought from the different seller?
[You can select more than one option]
Web-hosting
VOIP
Search Engine Optimization
Email Hosting
SSL Certificate
Online Marketing
Other (Please specify)
84
17. Please rate the following factors that would affect your decision to transfer your
domain name?
Please rate the following reasons on their scale of importance (tick in the relevant
box)
Reason
Not
Important
Mildly
Important
Important
Very
Important
Most
Important
Renewal Fee
Customer Support
Quality of Services
Integration of
services with a single
seller
Pricing of additional
services
18. Which of the following TLDs do you recognize?
.ooo
.club
.store
.online
.xyz
.website
.tech
.site
.today
None of the above
19. Are you aware of new generic Top Level Domains (new gTLDs)?
Yes
No
20. Are you aware of internationalized domain names (IDNs)? IDNs are TLDs in non-
Latin script. For example, instead of |yoga.in|, you can now also make a website as
|
योगा
.
भारत
|. .
भारत
is an IDN
Yes
No
If answer is yes, proceed to Q.21a, and Q.21b before proceeding to next Q.
If answer is no, skip Q.21a-Q21b, and proceed to Q. 22
21a. If yes, have you bought any IDNs?
Yes
No
85
21b. If yes, which IDNs did you buy and for how much?
IDN (mention language/script)
Price
21. Do you also resell domain names?
Yes
No
Individual survey questions:
Indian Domain Name Market Survey
(Individuals)
This survey is being conducted by the Indian Council for Research on International
Economic Relations (ICRIER) under its research project studying the market for domain
names in India. ICRIER is an independent policy think-tank based in New Delhi, India. The
responses from this survey will be used to analyse different aspects of the domain name
market in India including preferences for various products and services. Your responses shall
remain anonymous and any contact details that you choose to provide, will not be shared or
published.
22. Age
_______years
23. Sex
Male
Female
Other
24. Occupation
Self-employed/Independent
Professional
Employed (private sector) - Industry (Please specify industry)____________
Employed (government/public)
Employed (development sector/NGO)
Freelancer
Retired
Unemployed
Student
Not actively seeking employment
25. What is your monthly income?
Less Rs. 20,000
Between Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 40,000
Between Rs. 40,000 and Rs. 80,000
Between Rs. 80,000 and Rs. 2,00,000
More than Rs. 2,00,000
No source of income
Irregular income (Please specify) _________
86
26. Do you have a domain name registered?
Yes
No
Not yet but I plan to register
I do not know what a domain name is
If Answer is Yes or Not Yet but I plan to register go to Q.6
If Answer is No go to Q.5a and finish questionnaire with Q.5b.
If Answer is I do not know what a domain nameend the survey.
5a. Why don’t you have a domain name registered
I don’t feel the need to have a domain name
My business is growing well without an online presence such as a website or customized
email service
I think it is difficult to use and maintain a domain name
I am already listed on a platform like Amazon, Facebook, Indiamart, etc.
Other (Please specify)
5b. Do you have any comments or perspectives on the domain name market?
Comment:
27. For what purpose do you use or intend to use the domain name(s)?
[You can choose more than one option]
Personal
Professional, for my own business
Professional, for re-selling
If Answer is only Professional, for re-selling, skip all following Qs.
If answer is only Personal, or only Professional, for my own business proceed to Q.7.
If answer is multiple options with any one option being for Professional, for re-selling,
then proceed to question 7 and also ask part-B Reseller Questions.
28. What do you use the domain name for?
Website
Email
Website & Email
Redirecting
Redirecting & Website/Email
Other (Please specify _______________)
If Answer is Redirecting or Redirecting & Website/Email ask Q.7A before proceeding to
Q.8.
7a. Domain Names are redirected to
Social Media Platform Page (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter etc.)
Marketplace or Directory Listing (Indiamart, OLX, Amazon etc.)
87
29. Have you registered more than one domain name?
Yes (Please specify number of domain names registered _________)
No
30. Which Top Level Domain(s) (TLDs) have you registered? com, .org, .in are examples of Top
Level Domains(TLDs). It is the last part of the web address in www.example.com - .com is the TLD
[You may select more than one option].asia
.in
.org
.net
.com
.mobi
.biz
.info
Other (Please specify)
31. Which year did you buy the domain name?
(If you have bought more than one domain name, please provide the year of purchase
for the domain that you primarily use.)
_________
32. Do you prefer a ‘.in’ Top Level Domain (TLD) over other TLDs? com, .org, .in are
examples of Top Level Domains(TLDs). It is the last part of the web address in www.example.com - .com is the
TLD
Yes
No
Maybe
If answer is Yes ask Q.11a before proceeding to Q.12.
If answer is no or maybe, proceed to Q.12.
33. Apart from .in, which TLD do you prefer the most? com, .org, .in are examples of Top
Level Domains(TLDs). It is the last part of the web address in www.example.com -
.com is the TLD.
.org
.net
.com
.asia
.mobi
.info
I don’t have a TLD preference
11a. If yes, why do you prefer the .in TLD?[you can choose more than one]
It reflects that my activity or business is located in India
People are familiar with this TLD and recognize it easily
.in is a trusted TLD
.in has an affordable price
.in has resale value
88
I have not thought about this
Other (Please specify)
If the options for preference are selected, ask Q.12a before proceeding to next question.
34. Where did you buy your registered domain name from?
A registrar company (eg. GoDaddy, Bigrock, NET4India etc.)
A Web Developing Company/Individual
A Web Hosting Company
A Reseller
Other (Please specify)_________________
35. Did you buy the registered domain name bundled with additional services as a
package?
1. Registered domain name, refers to the domain name that you primarily use
2. Additional services can include web hosting, SSL certificate, website maintenance services, etc.
Yes
No
If answer is Yes, ask Q.14a and Q.14b proceeding to Question 15.
If answer is No,ask Q.14c and Q.14d before proceeding to Question 15.
If answer is yes, bought as a package
14a.Why did you choose to buy from this seller?[You can choose more than one option].
This seller had the best price offers
This is a well reputed brand
I got the domain free with other services that I bought from the company
I am unaware about other sellers
This was recommended to me by my friends/colleagues
An agent of this company had approached me
I saw an advertisement by the company
Other (Please specify)
14b. What are the additional services in the package that you bought along with your domain
name?[You can choose more than one option]
Web-hosting
VOIP
Search Engine Optimization
Email Hosting
SSL Certificate
Online Marketing
Other (Please specify)
12a. If yes, why do you prefer the TLD?
This TLD is most suitable for my business or activity
People are familiar with this TLD and therefore recognize it
This is a trusted TLD
This TLD has an affordable price
This TLD has resale value
89
36. At what price did you buy your registered domain name?
(If you have bought more than one domain name, please provide the price of purchase
for the domain that you primarily use.)
c) Only for the domain name
Rs.____________
d) Domain name with the package in case you purchased it as a package.
Rs.____________
37. What is the annual renewal fee for the registered domain name?
(If you have bought more than one domain name, please provide the annual renewal
fee for the domain that you primarily use.)
c) Only for the domain name
Rs.____________
d) Domain name with the package in case you purchased it as a package.
Rs.____________
38. Are you aware of domain name transfer?
Domain name transfer is the facility of changing your designated registrar company
for a domain. For example, I can choose to transfer my domain name from registrar
A to registrar B, if B offers a lower price etc. In this process, I can retain my domain
name and other services with the newly designated registrar B.
Yes
No
If answer is No, not as a package
14c. Did you buy additional services from a different seller?
Yes
No
If answer is yes, ask Q14d, and Q.14e.
If answer is no, proceed to Q.15
14d.Why did you buy additional services from a different seller?
[You can select more than one option]
The domain name seller did not provide the service(s) I needed
This is a well reputed brand
I am unaware about other sellers
This was recommended to me by my friends/colleagues
This company had the best package of services
An agent of the company had approached me
Other (Please specify)
14e. What are the additional services that you bought along with your domain name from the
different seller? [You can select more than one option]
Web-hosting
VOIP
Search Engine Optimization
Email Hosting
SSL Certificate
Online Marketing
Other (Please specify)
90
39. Please rate the following factors that would affect your decision to transfer your
domain name?
Please rate the following reasons on their scale of importance (tick in the relevant
box)
Reason
Not
Important
Mildly
Important
Important
Very
Important
Most
Important
Renewal Fee
Customer Support
Quality of Services
Integration of services
with a single seller
Pricing of additional
services
40. Which of the following TLDs do you recognize? [please select all applicable]
.ooo
.club
.store
.online
.xyz
.website
.tech
.site
.today
None of the above
41. Are you aware of new generic Top Level Domains (new gTLDs)?
Yes
No
42. Are you aware of internationalized domain names (IDNs)? IDNs are TLDs in non-Latin script.
For example, instead of |yoga.in|, you can now also make a website as |
योगा
.
भारत
|. .
भारत
is an IDN
Yes
No
43. If yes, have you bought any IDNs?
Yes
No
44. If yes, which IDNs did you buy and for how much?
IDN
Price
45. Do you have any comments or perspectives on the domain name market?
_____________________________________________
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