.af
Introduced16 October 1997
TLD typeCountry code top-level domain
StatusActive
RegistryAFGNIC
SponsorMinistry of Communications and Information Technology
Intended useEntities connected with Afghanistan
Actual useGets some use in Afghanistan
Registered domains5960 (26 August 2020)[1]
Registration restrictionsThird-level names have restrictions based on which second-level name they are beneath.
StructureRegistrations are taken directly at the second level or at the third level beneath various second-level subdomains
DocumentsICANN MoU; Policies
Dispute policiesDispute resolution procedures
Registry websitenic.af
Logo under the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

.af is the Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Afghanistan. It is administered by AFGNIC, a service of the UNDP. As of 26 August 2020, .af was used by 5960 domains.[1]

Registration is made directly at the second level, or on the third level beneath various categorized subdomains at the second level. Third-level domains have restrictions based on which second-level domain they are registered under. Registration on the second level is unrestricted, but more expensive. All fees are higher for international registrants.

The .af domain was delegated to Abdul Razeeq in 1997, a year after Taliban fighters had captured Kabul and founded the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. NetNames of London initially maintained the domain following an agreement with the IANA.[2] Razeeq later disappeared, halting some services. The domain was reopened on March 10, 2003, as a joint program between UNDP and the Afghan Ministry of Communications.[3]

With the fall of Kabul the .af domain again came under the control of the Taliban. ICANN said it "defers decision making to within the country".[4][5]

Second-level domains

  • .gov.af
  • .com.af
  • .org.af
  • .net.af
  • .edu.af
  • .tv.af
  • .media.af[6]

References

  1. 1 2 "Domain Count Statistics for TLDs". domaintools.com. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  2. ↑ "IANA Report on Redelegation of the .af Top-Level Domain".
  3. ↑ Pitman, Tom (8 March 2003). "Afghanistan to Launch Internet Domain". ourmidland.com. Midland Daily News. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  4. ↑ Bode, Karl (31 August 2021). "Afghanistan's Government Websites Are Frozen in Time". Vice. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  5. ↑ Stokel-Walker, Chris (7 September 2021). "The battle for control of Afghanistan's internet". Wired UK. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  6. ↑ "Dot AF New Announcement". nic.af. Archived from the original on 3 October 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.