The Sub-Saharan Africa region has the lowest rates of internet penetration, but despite that, Africa now has its own domain name which gives the continent a ‘digital identity’. Today the dot Africa domain has finally gone live to the public.
Africans who want to register a website can now be able to apply for a .africa domain name now. 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.
The African Union hopes that the 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.
One can sign up for a domain, here and it should be noted that .africa is currently designed for organisations, businesses and people that embrace the optimism, resilience, ingenuity and dynamism of the Bright Continent. Members of the general public are able to register .africa domain names, registrations are open on a “first come, first served” basis.
The benefits of a .africa domain name include showcasing the brand and it’s commitment to the African continent, establishing a home for Africa-specific products and services, expanding the brand’s regional influence and acquiring valuable online real-estate in a fast-growing and high-potential market.
