New gTLD Provider Directory

The 'New Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLD) Programme: The Next Round' initiative launching in April 2026, led by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), aims to expand the internet's domain name system (DNS) by introducing new top-level domains.

With more than 70% of all domain names under management, the members of the Names & Numbers Forum working group at the eco association represents the world's largest and one of the longest-standing advocacy group in the domain name industry. This community of experts and service providers can help you navigate the application process, handle the technical setup, and ensure compliance.

Strategic Questions

Do you have a clear target group or strategic use for the TLD?
Is it a brand name, a generic term or a regional/cultural term?
Are there any potential conflicts with existing interests, such as regions, brands or communities?
Will the planned TLD be used publicly or only internally (e.g. for branding purposes)?

Legal Matters & Brand Protection

Do you have the rights to use the desired name, taking into account trademarks, geography and culture?
Are you planning to create a closed generic top-level domain (TLD)? If so, would it be legally and politically acceptable?
Do you have legal support for the application process?

Financial Questions

Do you have the funds to cover the application fee of around 185,000 USD?
Is budgeting for this in your plans?
- Legal fees
- Technology & registry operations
- ICANN annual fees (~25,000 USD+)
- Marketing, Sunrise Launch, PR

Technical Setup

Do you have a registry backend provider or do you want to operate it yourself?
Are you able to fulfil requirements such as DNSSEC, abuse management and Whois disclosure requests?
Which type of registry are you planning: public or private?

Schedule & Organisation

Are you prepared for a lengthy process of 2–3 years?
Do you have an internal project team or external consultants?

This directory provides a non-exhaustive list of service providers, consultants, and experts who can assist you with the application process and operation of a new gTLD. They offer expertise at various levels, including legal, technical, strategic and operational. Please use the links and contact information included with each listing to get in touch with the providers. If you need help or guidance, please contact us: numbers@eco.de

Please also check the availability of pro bono support. Some providers offer this as part of ICANN's Applicant Support Programme.

Consulting:
Business & Strategy Advice

Business Strategy Development
Market Research
Marketing and Communications
Project Management
Legal & Compliance
Business Operations & Finance
Application Writing & Submission
Focus of expertise: new gTLDs
Focus of expertise: brandTLDs
Focus of expertise: geoTLDs

Operations:
Technical Services & Advice

Registry Backend/Service Provider
Rights Protection Management
Anycast Provider
(Data) Escrow Provider
Domain Name Registrar
Registrar as a Service
Registrar Outreach / Liaison
Corporate Registrar
DNS Hosting Provider
Abuse Management
General Technical Advice
Internationalized Domain Names
DNS Services, DNSSEC, IPv6
EPP, RDAP, Registration Data Policy
Offered languages: EN, FR, DE

Consulting:
Business & Strategy Advice

Business Strategy Development
Market Research
Marketing and Communications
Project Management
Legal & Compliance
Business Operations & Finance
Application Writing & Submission
Focus of expertise: new gTLDs
Focus of expertise: brandTLDs
Focus of expertise: geoTLDs

Operations:
Technical Services & Advice

Domain Name Registrar
Registrar as a Service
Registrar Outreach / Liaison
Corporate Registrar
Abuse Management
General Technical Advice
Internationalized Domain Names
DNS Services, DNSSEC, IPv6
EPP, RDAP, Registration Data Policy
Offered languages: EN, DE, FR

Consulting:
Business & Strategy Advice

Project Management
Business Operations
Focus of expertise: new gTLDs
Focus of expertise: brandTLDs
Focus of expertise: geoTLDs

Operations
Technical Services & Advice

Registry Backend/Service Provider
Rights Protection Management
Anycast Provider
Registrar as a Service
Registrar Outreach / Liaison
Abuse Management
General Technical Advice
Internationalized Domain Names
DNS Services, DNSSEC, IPv6
EPP, RDAP, Registration Data Policy
Offered languages: EN

Consulting:
Business & Strategy Advice

Business Strategy Development
Market Research
Marketing and Communications
Project Management
Legal & Compliance
Business Operations & Finance

Operations:
Technical Services & Advice

Registry Backend/Service Provider
Proxy Services
Rights Protection Management
Anycast Provider
(Data) Escrow Provider
Domain Name Registrar
Registrar as a Service
Registrar Outreach / Liaison
Corporate Registrar
Hosting Provider
Abuse Management
General Technical Advice
Internationalized Domain Names
DNS Services, DNSSEC, IPv6
EPP, RDAP, Registration Data Policy
Offered languages: EN, DE

Consulting
Business & Strategy Advice

Business Strategy Development
Project Management
Legal & Compliance
Business Operations & Finance
Application Writing & Submission
Focus of expertise: new gTLDs
Focus of expertise: brandTLDs

Operations:
Technical Services & Advice

Proxy Services
Rights Protection Management
Anycast Provider
Domain Name Registrar
Registrar as a Service
Corporate Registrar
Internationalized Domain Names
DNS Services, DNSSEC, IPv6
EPP, RDAP, Registration Data Policy
Offered languages: EN, FR, DE

Consulting:
Business & Strategy Advice

Market Research
Legal & Compliance
Application Writing & Submission
Focus of expertise: new gTLDs
Focus of expertise: brandTLDs
Focus of expertise: geoTLDs

Operations:
Technical Services & Advice

Proxy Services
Anycast Provider
Domain Name Registrar
Registrar as a Service
Registrar Outreach / Liaison
Corporate Registrar
Abuse Management
General Technical Advice
Internationalized Domain Names
DNS Services, DNSSEC, IPv6
EPP, RDAP, Registration Data Policy
Offered languages: EN, DE, FR

Consulting:
Business & Strategy Advice

Business Strategy Development
Market Research
Marketing and Communications
Project Management
Legal & Compliance
Business Operations & Finance
Application Writing & Submission
Focus of expertise: new gTLDs
Focus of expertise: brandTLDs
Focus of expertise: geoTLDs

Operations:
Technical Services & Advice

Registry Backend/Service Provider
Anycast Provider
(Data) Escrow Provider
Registrar Outreach / Liaison
Corporate Registrar
Abuse Management
General Technical Advice
Internationalized Domain Names
DNS Services, DNSSEC, IPv6
EPP, RDAP, Registration Data Policy
Offered languages: EN, DE

Advisory & Strategy
Application Services
Business & Legal
Technical Services

Business Consulting – Marketing and Communications, Business Consulting – Operations, Legal Services
Application Writing / Submission
Technical Help with Internationalized Domain Names, General Technical Help, Technical Help with DNS Services, Technical Help with DNSSEC, Technical Help regarding Proxy Services, Help regarding Rights Protection Management, Help regarding the Registration Data Policy, Technical Help with EPP, Technical Help with RDAP, Help regarding data escrow, IPv6 Implementation

Application Services
Business & Legal
Technical Services

Business Consulting – Marketing and Communications, Business Consulting – Operations
Application Writing / Submission
Technical Help with Internationalized Domain Names, General Technical Help, Technical Help with DNS Services, Technical Help with DNSSEC, Technical Help regarding Proxy Services, Help regarding Rights Protection Management, Help regarding the Registration Data Policy, Technical Help with EPP, Technical Help with RDAP, Help regarding data escrow, IPv6 Implementation

Consulting:
Business & Strategy Advice

Business Strategy Development
Market Research
Marketing and Communications
Project Management
Business Operations & Finance
Application Writing & Submission
Focus of expertise: new gTLDs
Focus of expertise: brandTLDs
Focus of expertise: geoTLDs

Operations:
Technical Advice

Registry Backend/Service Provider
Proxy Services
Rights Protection Management
Anycast Provider
(Data) Escrow Provider
Domain Name Registrar
Registrar as a Service
Registrar Outreach / Liaison
Corporate Registrar
Hosting Provider
Abuse Management
General Technical Advice
Internationalized Domain Names
DNS Services, DNSSEC, IPv6
EPP, RDAP, Registration Data Policy
Offered languages: EN, DE

Consulting:
Business & Strategy Advice

Business Strategy Development
Market Research
Marketing and Communications
Project Management
Legal & Compliance
Business Operations & Finance
Application Writing & Submission
Focus of expertise: new gTLDs
Focus of expertise: brandTLDs
Focus of expertise: geoTLDs

Operations:
Technical Services & Advice

Registry Backend/Service Provider
Proxy Services
Rights Protection Management
Domain Name Registrar
Registrar as a Service
Registrar Outreach / Liaison
Corporate Registrar
Hosting Provider
Abuse Management
General Technical Advice
Internationalized Domain Names
DNS Services, DNSSEC, IPv6
EPP, RDAP, Registration Data Policy
Offered languages: EN, ES

Consulting:
Business & Strategy Advice

Business Strategy Development
Market Research
Marketing and Communications
Project Management
Legal & Compliance
Business Operations & Finance
Application Writing & Submission
Focus of expertise: new gTLDs
Focus of expertise: brandTLDs
Focus of expertise: geoTLDs

Operations:
Technical Services & Advice

Registry Backend/Service Provider
Proxy Services
Rights Protection Management
Domain Name Registrar
Registrar as a Service
Registrar Outreach / Liaison
Corporate Registrar
Hosting Provider
Abuse Management
General Technical Advice
Internationalized Domain Names
DNS Services, DNSSEC, IPv6
EPP, RDAP, Registration Data Policy
Offered languages: EN, ES

Introduction

2026 marks a new round of applications for generic top-level domains (gTLDs) at ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. Companies will once again have the opportunity to secure their own brand-specific domain extension, known as a 'brandTLD'. This investment offers numerous strategic advantages, including branding, security, customer experience and digital innovation.

Strengthening the brand identity and branding

A brandTLD enables companies to define their own digital identity. Rather than relying on generic domain extensions such as ‘.com’ or ‘.net’, companies can create their own unique domain extension, such as ‘.brand’ or ‘.company’. This increases brand visibility and differentiation in the digital space. Customers immediately associate a customised TLD with the relevant company, thereby strengthening trust and recognition.

Improved security standards

Cybercrime is an increasingly prevalent threat, with phishing attacks and brand abuse being particularly common. Having their own brand TLD enables companies to implement robust security measures and prevent the exploitation of their brand online. Phishing websites with misleading domain names, such as ‘brand-support.com’ or ‘brand-offer.net’, can virtually be eliminated with an exclusive top-level domain. Companies can retain complete control over who is authorised to register domains within their TLD, significantly improving security for customers and partners.

Improved user experience and trust

A dedicated top-level domain can also improve the customer experience. Consumers know that any website with the specific brandTLD comes directly from the company and no third-party providers are involved. This creates an intuitive and trustworthy digital environment, which in turn can lead to higher conversion rates. Users no longer have to wonder whether they are on a company's official website or a copycat site.

More flexibility for digital strategies

Companies can develop a completely new approach to digital communication with their own TLD. Rather than settling for the limited naming options available with existing domains, companies can use creative, short domains for different business areas or marketing campaigns. For instance, a car manufacturer could create a maintenance services platform under 'service.brand' or an exclusive customer platform under 'customer.brand'.

Long-term investment and competitive advantage

Securing its own brandTLD at an early stage also means that a company gains a digital competitive advantage over its competitors. Many companies did not take advantage of the opportunities offered by the first round of applications in 2012 and later realised with regret that competitors had secured their brand TLDs. A brandTLD offers a long-term strategic advantage as it secures brand control in the digital space for decades to come.

Independence from third-party providers and platforms

Many companies currently rely heavily on external platforms, such as social networks and search engines, to reach their customers. Having their own top-level domain (TLD) enables companies to build an independent digital infrastructure, reducing their reliance on large platform providers. This reduces long-term risks and creates greater control over content, data and customer interactions.

SEO benefits and improved search engine ranking

Although Google does not officially favour brandTLDs, there are indirect SEO benefits. Short, memorable domains with a strong brand identity can lead to higher click-through rates (CTRs), which can positively affect rankings. Additionally, a separate TLD allows for a clear and intuitive URL structure that search engines can better understand and index.

Costs and effort: a worthwhile investment

Applying for your own top-level domain requires considerable financial and organisational investment. Setting up a TLD can cost several hundred thousand US dollars, and you will need to invest in the necessary technical infrastructure for administration. However, the long-term benefits in terms of branding, security, and independence make it worthwhile. Any company that takes its digital presence seriously should seize this opportunity.

Conclusion

The next ICANN application round, scheduled for 2026, offers companies a rare opportunity to secure their digital brand for the long term. The advantages of owning a brand TLD include increased brand identity, improved security, competitive advantages and SEO optimisation. Those that address the issue early on and take the necessary steps can secure an exclusive, future-proof position in the digital space. The time to prepare to apply for a brandTLD and take your digital brand strategy to the next level is now.

Registry System Testing (RST) ensures that a Registry Operator (RO) is able to operate a generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) in a stable and secure manner.

Every RO must demonstrate that it has established operations in accordance with the applicable technical and operational criteria prior to (a) delegation into the root zone of the Internet, (b) transition of the TLD between Registry Service Providers (RSPs), and (c) introduction of certain registry services.

https://www.icann.org/en/contracted-parties/registry-operators/registry-system-testing/registry-system-testing-rst-version-20-23-10-2024-en

This directory is here as a community resource, offering a selection of service providers with experience or expertise in their fields. It isn’t a promotional list, and it’s not limited to eco association members. Please note that the eco association does not endorse or guarantee any of the providers listed. We encourage you to carefully evaluate and choose the provider that best fits your needs. The eco association makes no warranties about the quality or results of any services offered. By using this directory, you agree to these guidelines.