The Senior Director for new Generic Top Level Domains (ngTLDs) programme at the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), Mr. Bob Ochieng has revealed that one of the reasons for the latest round of the programme was to promote inclusivity, reports ITREALMS.
Speaking at the 2024 Africa Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia during a session at conference room 6 at the weekend, on subtheme "A More Inclusive Internet: Introducing the new gTLD Applicant Support Programme."
Ochieng, accompanied by the Director, Stakeholders Engagement and Operations for Africa at ICANN, Mr. Yaovi Atohoun, noted that the first round of the programme was held conclusively in 2012, stressing that new gTLDs bring opportunities to underrepresented communities and regions.
The latest round of the programme, he revealed, commenced on Tuesday, November 19, 2024 is expected to run for 12-month duration anticipated to end by 19th November 2025, when the ASP application portal will close.
According to him, the ASP, provides financial and non-financial assistance to qualified, eligible entities who plan to apply for a new gTLD.
ITREALMS recalled that ICANN developed the ASP to make the New gTLD Programme accessible to organizations that may want to apply for a new gTLD but are unable to do so because of financial and other resource constraints.
“The ASP provides a range of assistance,” he said, which include access to volunteer professional services, training, and other resources, and reductions in gTLD evaluation fees.
Key indicators of success, he revealed will be applications that include new communities and voices, a variety of languages and scripts, geographic and ethnic diversity, entrepreneurs and startups and non-profit organisations.
ICANN, he said anticipated that at the end of this current round on new gTLDs, to see growth to about 2000 new generic Top Level Domains, just as he maintained that the new gTLD programme is aimed at making the Domain Name System more inclusive and more usable to more users.
Ochieng pointed out that nonprofits, nongovernmental, and charitable organizations; intergovernmental organizations; indigenous and tribal peoples’ organizations; and small businesses that operate as social enterprises, especially in a less-developed economy are eligible to benefit from ASP.
The applications, he explained, will be evaluated based on financial need, financial viability, and eligible entity status, among other criteria, just as a complete guide to the ASP application and evaluation process is available in the ASP Handbook.
Further, ITREALMS recalled that the ASP Handbook provides resources to prepare potential applicants for the support evaluation process.
These materials include the ASP Quick Start Guide, which provides links to two critical resources: the ASP Applicant Checklist and the ASP Application System Applicant User Guide. The checklist offers a summary of the information required as part of the ASP application. The ASP Application System Applicant User Guide is a technical aid to lead the applicant through the online application system.
ICANN advised potential applicants to consider both the risks and rewards of operating a registry in the long term, which require significant operational, technical, and financial resources – beyond what is covered by the ASP portfolio of support.
"Therefore, an award of support does not guarantee a successful application for a gTLD because all new gTLD applicants must pass the required evaluations," part of the press statement read.
The ASP application submission period is open today, for 12 months, through 19 November 2025. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early to take full advantage of the capacity development materials and pro bono services to inform a strong gTLD application in April 2026. If you are interested to learn more about this opportunity, please visit the ASP website for more information.
Remmy Nweke, reporting from Addis Ababa/DoP
Ochieng, accompanied by the Director, Stakeholders Engagement and Operations for Africa at ICANN, Mr. Yaovi Atohoun, noted that the first round of the programme was held conclusively in 2012, stressing that new gTLDs bring opportunities to underrepresented communities and regions.
The latest round of the programme, he revealed, commenced on Tuesday, November 19, 2024 is expected to run for 12-month duration anticipated to end by 19th November 2025, when the ASP application portal will close.
According to him, the ASP, provides financial and non-financial assistance to qualified, eligible entities who plan to apply for a new gTLD.
ITREALMS recalled that ICANN developed the ASP to make the New gTLD Programme accessible to organizations that may want to apply for a new gTLD but are unable to do so because of financial and other resource constraints.
“The ASP provides a range of assistance,” he said, which include access to volunteer professional services, training, and other resources, and reductions in gTLD evaluation fees.
Key indicators of success, he revealed will be applications that include new communities and voices, a variety of languages and scripts, geographic and ethnic diversity, entrepreneurs and startups and non-profit organisations.
ICANN, he said anticipated that at the end of this current round on new gTLDs, to see growth to about 2000 new generic Top Level Domains, just as he maintained that the new gTLD programme is aimed at making the Domain Name System more inclusive and more usable to more users.
Ochieng pointed out that nonprofits, nongovernmental, and charitable organizations; intergovernmental organizations; indigenous and tribal peoples’ organizations; and small businesses that operate as social enterprises, especially in a less-developed economy are eligible to benefit from ASP.
The applications, he explained, will be evaluated based on financial need, financial viability, and eligible entity status, among other criteria, just as a complete guide to the ASP application and evaluation process is available in the ASP Handbook.
Further, ITREALMS recalled that the ASP Handbook provides resources to prepare potential applicants for the support evaluation process.
These materials include the ASP Quick Start Guide, which provides links to two critical resources: the ASP Applicant Checklist and the ASP Application System Applicant User Guide. The checklist offers a summary of the information required as part of the ASP application. The ASP Application System Applicant User Guide is a technical aid to lead the applicant through the online application system.
ICANN advised potential applicants to consider both the risks and rewards of operating a registry in the long term, which require significant operational, technical, and financial resources – beyond what is covered by the ASP portfolio of support.
"Therefore, an award of support does not guarantee a successful application for a gTLD because all new gTLD applicants must pass the required evaluations," part of the press statement read.
The ASP application submission period is open today, for 12 months, through 19 November 2025. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early to take full advantage of the capacity development materials and pro bono services to inform a strong gTLD application in April 2026. If you are interested to learn more about this opportunity, please visit the ASP website for more information.
Remmy Nweke, reporting from Addis Ababa/DoP
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