Generic top level domain (gTLD) internet names dotAfrica (.africa), dotCapeTown (.capetown), dotDurban (.durban) and dotJoburg (.joburg) are in a “pre-sunrise” phase leading up to a 2014 launch.

This according to the bidder for these names the ZA Central Registry (ZACR), which manages South Africa’s .co.za domain name.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) opened applications for new gTLDs in 2013.
Two bidders applied for .africa: South Africa’s ZA Central Registry (ZACR) and Kenyan-based DotConnectAfrica (DCA).

But ZACR’s bid for the gTLD ‘dotAfrica’ passed ICANN'S ‘initial evaluation phase’ in mid-2013, while the DCA failed to progress beyond this stage.

And ZACR says that having passed initial evaluation, the dotAfrica Pre-Sunrise phase will conclude at the beginning of March 2014.

“Leading up to March, the ZACR will be going through pre-delegation testing and contract negotiations with ICANN. Once all the ICANN processes have been successfully concluded, the ZACR will be the authoritative administrator of the .africa gTLD,” says the ZACR.

“Sunrise is estimated to take place over a three month period, from 1 March 2014 to the end of May 2014. General availability phase which will operate on a first come first serve basis is estimated to starts on 1 August 2014,” says the organisation.

As part of the launch processes, dotAfrica has also developed a Reserved Names List (RNL) policy.

This policy is a mechanism developed for African governments and other authorities to list sensitive and important names and to prevent registration of those names during the launch of the dotAfrica domain, says the ZACR.

The policy is currently active, and African governments are in the process of nominating representatives to reserve their names.

The reserve name application process will provide African governments with a chance to protect their national interests by reserving names of significance to them and their citizens.

The RNL process is planned to end on 1 February 2014, says the ZACR.