For quite a while now, there have been speculations about when ICANN will accept new applications for new gTLDs. Now it became clear: not before 2021.
A full eight years between the first application round in 2013 and the next. How come that it takes such a long time for ICANN to accept new applications? Jeff Neumann, Co-Chair of the „New gTLD Subsequent Procedures Working Group“, gave the answer at the latest ICANN meeting in San Juan in March 18. He explained that many hurdles must still be overcome. For instance, it needs to be reviewed how the nTLD program influences the competition as well as consumer trust and choice. Then, the ICANN application guidebook needs to be revised which will take time until 2020. This calls for a smooth cooperation between all parties involved or otherwise the deadline of 2021 may turn into an optimistic vision.
Reactions are hardly foreseeable
How will potential applicants react to this? Will the new round be as successful as the first one? Nobody knows. But it’s quite clear that there are many parties waiting for the start of a new application round. No matter, how big the number of new applications will be, it’s quite likely that conflicts will occur again between the various interested parties. When it comes to the allocation of new gTLDs, big financially strong companies will compete with small non-profit organizations – of course, everyone wants his slice of the pie.