Nominet has applied to become an ICANN accredited registrar solely to guarantee a distribution channel for .wales and .cymru.  ICANN rules stipulate the creation of a wholly-owned subsidiary, whilst Nominet have no plans to sell other generic TLDs through the subsidiary.

As well as increasing consumer trust, .wales and .cymru will support ‘brand Wales’ and boost recognition overseas helping to attract inward investment, promote Welsh exports and grow the Welsh economy.  .wales and .cymru will benefit the community, bring cultural benefits and will encourage the use of the Welsh language online.

With the rise of superfast broadband and increasing access throughout Wales, the business benefits are clear.  And, with independent research* demonstrating a strong desire amongst the Welsh population and businesses to capitalise on the rich heritage and unique character of their country, from  tourism to the creative sector and from agriculture to retail, now is the time to register interest.

A consultation to help shape the new internet domains runs from 7th Dec until 28 February 2013. The full consultation document is available at bit.ly/cymru-wales

For more information visit www.domainforwales.org.uk

*Source: LE Wales Study