.so

This article is about the top-level domain. For the filename extension, see Executable and Linkable Format.
.so
Introduced28 August 1997
TLD typeCountry code top-level domain
StatusActive
RegistrySONIC
SponsorSomali Network Information Center
Intended useEntities connected with  Somalia
Actual useRecently re-established
Registration restrictionsLimited to institutions and organizations in Somalia, residents of Somalia, others who have a legitimate, clear and provable connection to Somalia
StructureRegistrations can be made via authorized registrars
DocumentsSomalia .so
Dispute policies.so domain name registration policies
WIPO
Registry websitesonic.so
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.so is the internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Somalia. After a long absence, the .so domain was officially relaunched on November 1, 2010, by .SO Registry, which is regulated by the nation's Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications.[1] It was launched through various accredited registrars around the world.

On 11 July 2013 the ISO 3166-1 code for Somalia changed to reflect the SO used for the ccTLD.

On July 8, 2015, the .so ccTLD registry was transferred to the Somali Network Information Center (SONIC),[2] which introduced new limitations on purchasing .so domain names by persons and organizations not affiliated with Somalia.[3][4] As a result, several registrars suspended the registration of new .so domain names.[5]

On March 9, 2018, Somalia's newly established telecom regulator The National Communications Authority (NCA) took full control of the country's top-level internet domain (dotSO) from the Somali National Information Center (SONIC) and Cloudy Registry, who ran the operations and the management of the domain Registry.[6]

  1. ^ "SO Registry". Archived from the original on 2014-10-31. Retrieved 2010-09-18.
  2. ^ "Migration - SONIC". Archived from the original on 2015-07-22. Retrieved 2015-07-22.
  3. ^ "OpenProvider: Upcoming Changes to SO Domains". Archived from the original on 2015-07-22. Retrieved 2015-07-22.
  4. ^ ".so domain names". Gandi.net. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
  5. ^ "About .so Domains". uk.godaddy.com.
  6. ^ "Somalia's new telecom regulator takes control of top-level domain - Xinhua | English.news.cn". Archived from the original on March 9, 2018.