Monash University has become the first globally recognised organisation to be delegated a brand Top-Level Domain (TLD) by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
The internet’s global governing body received over 1900 applications for new TLDs and the coming year should see the around 1000 new domains to the web in one of the largest changes to the internet since its dissemination.
The TLD program was developed to provide choice and competition to current domains such as .com, .info.net and .org. The new program has many other notable applicants including brands such as .google, .apple and .anz along with generic domains like .melbourne, .book and .cpa.
The Victorian university has been allocated the new TLD following a lengthy application process and detailed review of its technical operational and financial capabilities.
Monash vice-president (information) and chief information officer, Dr. Ian Tebbett, said that the delegation is a reflection of the universities commitment to embracing new technologies and expansion in overseas education and research.
He said the university recognises that the Internet has changed the world dramatically, including the education and research activities of universities.
Monash continues to develop the first phase roll-out with two .monash websites expected to go live in the near future. The university will gradually phase the new TLD into its digital communications, while still operating the current monash.edu.
With the competition for differentiation a constant among institutions that operate on the internet, the ICANN should have its hands full in the coming months and years processing applications and allocating new domains.
