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The internet is constantly evolving, and so are its rules and regulations. Australian domain names are no exception—in fact, they’re currently undergoing some of the most significant changes in their history.
If you have a website or are thinking about starting one, you must be aware of the upcoming changes to Australia’s domain name system.
What’s changing?
The most significant change is that Australia is moving to a “.au” second-level domain (2LD). This means that all Australian domains will end in “.au” instead of the current “.com. au”, “.net.au”, “.org.au”, “.asn.au”, “.id.au”, “.gov.au” or “.or “.edu. au”.
The other significant change is the Direct Registration System (DRS), which will allow people to register domain names directly at the second level without needing to go through a registrar.
Why is this happening?
The changes are being made to bring Australia’s domain name system in line with international best practices. The “.au” 2LD will make it easier for people to identify Australian websites, and the DRS will make it simpler and cheaper to register domain names.
The new extension will take effect on September 26, 2020. Existing domain name license holders have been given preference to register the .au direct equivalent of their domains until September 20, 2022. Domain names that haven’t been assigned will become available to the public after that date.
The ACSC (Australian Cyber Security Centre) advises all Australian companies, organisations, and people to utilise the priority allocation procedure to register their current domain names’ .au direct equivalents.
“If you have a domain name similar to another domain name owner, and both of you want the .au direct equivalent of your domain names, then you will need to go through a priority allocation process to determine who gets the .au domains,” says ACSC.
“The purpose of the priority allocation process is to allocate .au domains in a fair, equitable and transparent way. In most cases, the .au domain will be allocated to the registrant of the corresponding .com.au or .net.au domain name.”
If you’re unsure whether you need to register your “.au” domain name, you can check out the helpful flowchart from auDA.
How do I register my “.au” domain name?
If you want to register your “.au” domain name, you can do so through any accredited registrar. You can find a list of registrars on the auDA website.
Additional considerations
Before you register a new domain name or make any changes to your existing ones, there are a few things you need to keep in mind:
- Make sure you keep your contact details up to date. This includes your email address, phone number and mailing address.
- Be aware of the expiration date of your domain name license. If it expires, you run the risk of losing your domain name.
- Make sure you renew your domain name license on time. If you don’t, someone else could register it.
- Keep your registrar’s contact information handy if you need to make any changes to your domain name.
- Back up your website regularly. This way, if you lose your domain name, you’ll still have a website copy.
- Be cautious of domain name scams. Several scams target domain name holders, so be sure to research before making any changes to your domain name.
The upcoming changes to Australia’s domain name system are an exciting development for businesses, organisations and individuals. However, it’s essential to be aware of their risks and take steps to protect yourself and your domain name. For more information on the changes, please visit auDA’s website.
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