Two-Letter Domain Released
In October last year, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) had decided to allow new gTLD registries to release all two-character domain names in their zones. In their decision pertaining to the same they instructed the ICANN’s executive to “develop and implement an efficient procedure for the release of two character domains currently required to be reserved in the New gTLD Registry Agreement”. All two-character domains were initially reserved due to the potential for confusion with two-letter ccTLDs.
Pursuant to the decision, registries representing over 200 new gTLDs have already filed Registry Service Evaluation Process requests for the release of some two-character strings. The newly available domain names will be released in 13 groups starting June 10, 2015 and each extension will go through an Early access phase in which the applicant can register the name of his choice ahead of General Availability for an increased fee.