[Comments-africa-dns-market-study-11mar17] Comments on 2016 African Domain name System Market Study

[Paul Hjul]

Mr Dandjinou

Below are preliminary comments arising from the Draft Report "The 2016 African Domain Name System Market Study" as published on the 17th March 2017 under the aegis of ICANN and the South African Communications Forum. I wish to make five observations.

[1] It is clear from the report that continued research, or more pertinently systematic monitoring in the DNS market on the African continent is a necessary endeavour.

[2] The report draws attention to the fact that "African Internet access is primarily via mobile devices" and that this "result(s) in a lower demand for domain names" (p11). There is a nuanced reality to consider with regard to the use of mobile devices as the end point of the consumer (as opposed to as the medium of transmission - a cellular device used as a means by which to connect a desktop produces a different Internet experience to a tablet connected over a home wifi network) and the uptake and use of various Internet technologies. One of the fundamental traits of the grand experiment that is the global Internet is that a culture of hacking together a way of using technologies far beyond the intended and envisaged usage. The .mobi TLD was quite simply a failure but he use of "m.*" to indicate a mobile catered webpage format (XHTML Mobile Profile) has been adopted by the market (from a workstation browser connecting to m.facebook.com affords a user with a different experience) and while many sites have since dropped the practice it serves as a lesson in how consumers of Internet based technologies who have limited access behave.

Walled garden environments may detract from the global domain name system and "hide" its importance from many users but the net effect of an increase in the use of global Internet based technologies
Implementation of RFC is a growth in the importance of a functioning and efficient DNS system. Therefore while the use of domain hacks (discussed at p 107) may diminish and the landscape of domain names as primarily a marketing exercise may be less significant, the importance of credible domain names to rich interconnected applications cannot be overstated.


[3] The value of a ccTLD to a sovereign jurisdiction and the ability to participate in creating value for the jurisdiction through using the global DNS should not be underestimated.

If a country such as Lesotho (.ls) (which  or Zambia (.zm) (which is a jurisdiction requiring registrants have a local legal presence) were to operate highly efficient registry ecosystems could result in a major change to the use of their domain name systems in a way that contributes in a not insignificant manner to the domestic economy.

Some traits would include:
Implementation of EPP
Deployment of DNSSec
A functioning CERT
Privacy support in domain registration
Efficient payment clearance systems
Cost effective and credible dispute resolution. While the UDRP is certainly cost effective in comparison to other aspects of international intellectual property protection and enforcement it remains an incredibly expensive process. South Africa's applicable legislative framework (the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act, 2002) regulating domain name activity within the jurisdiction (and by extension the .za ccTLD) specifically provide for the development of alternate dispute resolution provisions in respect of the .za domain name space. A similar approach can be taken by a jurisdiction seeking to create a "start-up" friendly environment.

[5] The disparity which arises between ICANN accredited registrars and ZACR accredited registrars is a matter which requires further investigation and insight. (p 12 and p117) While a 3Rs model envisages a registrar that is uniquely recognized (and "accredited") by  the registry where, as is the case in South Africa, there is a ccTLD that has a registry operator managing the principle SLDs (but not all SLDs) several difficulties can arise. If the requirements for ICANN registrar accreditation are a burden to new African entrants projects to develop such entrants need to be put in place.

Kind Regards
Paul Hjul



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