AU launches .africa domain name which is set to be a ‘disruptor’

AGENCY STAFF | 10 MARCH 2017 | BUSINESS DAY

Despite Sub-Saharan Africa having the lowest rates of internet penetration, Africa now has its own domain name which gives the continent a ‘digital identity’

Addis Ababa — In the beginning was .com, followed by a host of other .somethings, but on Friday, 32 years after the world’s first domain name was registered, the African Union (AU) has launched .africa.

Africans who want to register a website will be able to apply for a .africa domain name in the coming months, which outgoing AU commission chairwoman Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said would allow the continent’s people and businesses to better reach the world.

“With .africa, I would say Africa has finally got its digital identity,” said Dlamini-Zuma, who will hand power to Chadian foreign minister Moussa Faki Mahamat next week after four years at the helm of the continental body.

Sub-Saharan Africa has one of the lowest rates of internet penetration in the world, according to the World Bank, with only about 22% of people online compared to the global average of 44%. The AU has vowed to increase broadband internet penetration by 10% by next year as part of its “Agenda 2063” development proposal.

As Africa’s largest economy, SA dominates African presence online, holding 1.1-million of the 2-million website registrations on the continent, said Lucky Masilela, CEO of ZA Central Registry, the SA-based company that will oversee .africa.

High fees are an obstacle to many people who want to register a website, Masilela said. In some African countries it can cost as much as $250 (€235) but Masilela said .africa addresses will be available at a cut-rate price of just $18 to anyone on the continent: “.africa is going to be a market disruptor and will assist in lowering the cost of domain names.”

The AU is hoping proceeds from the domain registrations will help cover some of its administrative costs and fund the AU commission. The domain is due to be available to the public in July but it remains unclear how strong demand will be.