Internet resources: Open domain names registration commenced in .РФ zone

The Open Domain Names Registration in the first Cyrillic .РФ zone commenced on November 11 2010. Thus each and every Russian citizen of Russia may now register an address in the Russian language. Variants of possible website names will be restricted by a “stop-list”, which consists of about 5 000 words, including curse words. According to the Terms and Conditions of domain names registration under domain .РФ, for the first year of the general availability period registrations are only allowed for Russian Federation citizens, legal entities registered under the Russian Federation law and foreign legal entities that have a subsidiary accredited in Russia.

Under the rules, adopted by the National Domain Coordination Center Council, for the first year of the general availability period (open registration) certain restrictions would apply including a restriction on registration by the foreign citizens and organizations. What is more, the right on administration of the domain name, registered between November 11 2010 – November 10 2011, can’t be transferred to another person within a year.

Russia has become the first country which was given a right to launch a domain zone in the national language. The idea of creation of a national domain in Cyrillic alphabet was supported by the RF President Dmitry Medvedev. On November 16 2009 Russia submitted an application on delegation of the national Cyrillic domain, while the priority domain names registration for Russian state authorities and companies kicked off on November 25 2009. First to be mounted in the new domain zone were websites президент.рф and правительство.рф. They were launched on May 12 2010. Later the right to register in .рф zone was given to Mass Media owners and NGOs. This stage came to an end in mid. September with 18 000 registered domain names.

The Cyrillic domain has a great number of advantages both for ordinary Net surfers and businesses. Initiators of .РФ domain often highlighted that it would be easier for users to find relevant websites in the native language without making spelling mistakes while typing. Having a website in the Cyrillic domain considerably expands opportunities of companies of the Russian market, as often people perceive information in their native language much better than that in foreign language.

In the future is expected be launch of email with addresses in the Russian language.