Aug, 2007 : Partnership to Help Develop Arabic Domain Names

MARINA DEL REY, Calf.: The development of InternationalizedDomain Names (IDNs) in Arabic will get a boost thanks to a Memorandum of Understandingbetween the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) andthe UN Economic and Social Commission of Western Asia (UN-ESCWA).

"Implementing IDNs is one of the largest enhancements to the Internet inits history, " said Dr Paul Twomey, ICANN's President and CEO. "This partnershipwith UN-ESCWA will insure we are sharing information and ideas on how to moveforward with having Arabic available in the globally-interoperable Domain NameSystem."

Yousef Nusseir, UN-ESCWA Chief of Information and Communication TechnologyDivision said that UN-ESCWA was committed to facilitate access to the Internetin the Arabic language and had led efforts geared towards using the Arabiccharacters in Domain Names since 2003, including research, standardization,and advocacy.

"UN-ESCWA and the League of Arab States are currently harmonizing severalregional joint activities, among which is the upgrade of the Arab pilot projectspearheaded by the League, aiming at full-fledged implementation that woulddrastically increase the internet dissemination rates in the region," he said.

 ICANN will be launching a real-time, real-world evaluationlater this year that will allow Internet users to create their own sub-pageof ICANN's evaluation site. Their subpage can be their own name in one of the11 test languages, including Arabic, that would look like example.test/yourname.The main example.test domains, translated in each of the 11 languages, willresolve to websites with local content and the ability to share comments.

The MoU aims to build a cooperative working relationship in identified areasof common interest, and specifically to work towards the implementation ofIDNs in the Arabic language, and to engage in the further development of thegeneric top-level domain name space.

The partnership program will also foster discussions and raise awarenesswithin the Arab Internet community regarding technical and policy aspects ofthe Internet Domain Name System.

A copy of the signed MOU is available at: https://www.icann.org/announcements/escwa-mou-18jun07.pdf [PDF, 73K].

About ICANN:

ICANN is responsible for the global coordination of the Internet's systemof unique identifiers like domain names (like .org, .museum and country codeslike .uk) and the addresses used in a variety of Internet protocols that helpcomputers reach each other over the Internet. Careful management of these resourcesis vital to the Internet's operation, so ICANN's global stakeholders meet regularlyto develop policies that ensure the Internet's ongoing security and stability.ICANN is an internationally organized, public benefit non-profit company. Formore information please visit: www.icann.org.

About UN-ESCWA:

UN-ESCWA promotes economic and social development through regional and subregionalcooperation and integration and serves as the main general economic and socialdevelopment forum within the United Nations system for the UN-ESCWA region.It formulates and promotes development assistance activities and projects commensuratewith the needs and priorities of the region and acts as an executing agencyfor relevant operational projects. UN-ESCWA coordinates its activities withthose of the major departments/offices of the United Nations at Headquartersand of specialized agencies and intergovernmental organizations, such as theLeague of Arab States, the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Organization ofthe Islamic Conference, with a view to avoid duplication and ensure complementarity,synergy and exchange of information.

Media Contacts:

Jason Keenan
Media Adviser, ICANN (USA)
Ph: +1 310 382 4004
E: jason.keenan@icann.org

International: Andrew Robertson
Edelman (London)
Ph: +44 7921588 770
E: andrew.robertson@edelman.com