The application window is open. Your brand's next decade starts here.
ICANN's new gTLD application round opened on 30 April 2026 with applications closing on 12 August. Whether you are considering a .brand TLD, a generic industry extension, or simply need to understand the competitive implications, Sokomi has the experience and strategic depth to guide you through every phase.
What is a TLD, and why should you care?
Every web address has parts. The part after the final dot is called a Top-Level Domain. It is the highest level of digital real estate on the internet. Today, most organisations rent space in someone else's namespace, such as legacy TLDs. A .brand TLD means you own the namespace itself: every address under it is created, governed and secured by you.
Think of a legacy TLD as renting an office in someone else's building. Owning .yourbrand is owning the entire building, and deciding who gets a key.
Whether you want to own your brand or shape your industry, the opportunity is the same
One brand. One world. Online and on the ground.
A .brand TLD puts your company name to the right of the dot. You become the registry operator. Every domain under your namespace is exclusively yours: shorter addresses, verified trust, zero risk of third-party impersonation within your namespace.
- Exclusive ownership of your namespace at the root of the internet
- Structurally eliminates domain-based phishing within your namespace
- 100% control over policies, governance and DNS resolution
- Zero recurring defensive registration costs across other extensions
Do not just exist in your industry. Own the namespace.
A generic TLD puts your industry, community or interest to the right of the dot. You become the registry operator for an entire sector. Every registration generates recurring revenue. You set the rules for who can register and how the namespace is used.
- Recurring revenue from every domain registration under your TLD
- Define the address for your entire sector or community
- Set the rules for who gets in and what standards are met
- A compounding digital asset that grows with the market
Your AI models are sovereign. Your internet infrastructure should be too.
The DACH region is building Europe's most trusted AI ecosystem, founded on data sovereignty, regulatory compliance and engineering precision. The EU AI Act reaches full applicability in August 2026, the same month the ICANN application window closes. For AI companies in the region, these two events create a unique strategic alignment that a .brand TLD is designed to address.
Sovereign infrastructure: your digital identity should match your models
DACH AI companies differentiate on sovereignty: models on European infrastructure, data under European law, decisions explainable under European regulation. Yet most still operate their digital presence on a legacy extension governed by a third-party registry. A .brand TLD closes that gap. You own the namespace. The governance is yours. The trust architecture matches the sovereignty of your product.
Agentic AI ecosystems need verifiable endpoints
As AI systems communicate agent-to-agent, model-to-API and system-to-system, the provenance of every endpoint matters. A .brand TLD provides a cryptographically governed namespace where every address is verified by the operator.
Regulated industries demand verified infrastructure
Healthcare, financial services, public sector, defence: your customers operate under their own regulatory frameworks. A .brand TLD provides verifiable trust. Every address under your namespace is provably yours.
Eliminate entire categories of attack surface
A .brand TLD is a closed namespace. Only you create addresses on it. Domain-based phishing, typosquatting and brand impersonation become structurally impossible within your namespace.
A namespace your engineering team will love
api.yourbrand. docs.yourbrand. sdk.yourbrand. A clean, logical, self-documenting namespace for your entire technical surface. Shorter, more memorable and structurally more trustworthy than subdomains on a legacy extension.
ICANN has opened the application window for new generic and brand TLDs. The last round was in 2012. There is no scheduled next round. For organisations building long-term digital infrastructure, this is a once-in-a-generation decision point.
End-to-end advisory from feasibility through post-delegation
Sokomi has advised over 250 registry operators since 2012. Our team covers every phase of the TLD lifecycle, from initial market analysis through application submission, ICANN evaluation and operational launch.
Competitor and Industry Analysis
Actionable intelligence on peer TLD activity, industry trends and emerging opportunities. Understand what your competitors are doing and where the strategic gaps lie.
Application Feasibility
Market demand assessment, brand fit analysis and long-term strategic value evaluation. Know whether to apply, and exactly what to apply for, before you commit.
Application Management
From structure and submission through to ICANN evaluation, our team handles the complexities and ensures your application meets every requirement.
Financing and Operations
Cost projections, revenue modelling and supplier management. Understand the full financial picture and operational requirements of running a TLD.
Portfolio Alignment
Review your current domain portfolio and identify opportunities to consolidate, expand or adjust in line with new TLD options and your broader digital strategy.
Post-Delegation Support
Ongoing advisory after your TLD is live: registry operations, compliance monitoring, abuse mitigation and strategic planning for growth.
Whether you are exploring or ready to apply, we meet you where you are
Global Enterprises
With large brand portfolios, regulatory obligations and customer-facing digital infrastructure that demands verified trust at the namespace level.
Brand Protection Teams
Seeking to eliminate domain-based phishing and impersonation by controlling the namespace itself, rather than chasing infringements across hundreds of extensions.
Industry Bodies and Associations
Looking to define the authoritative digital address for their sector, community or profession through a generic TLD.
Cities, Regions and Governments
Wanting to establish a geographic or civic TLD that represents their community on the global internet.
Technology and AI Companies
Building sovereign digital infrastructure where verified endpoints, clean namespaces and developer experience are competitive differentiators.
Not Sure Yet
Not applying does not mean not preparing. Sokomi advises on programme impact, competitor activity and industry-specific implications even if you choose not to apply.
“At Sokomi, we provide straightforward, practical advice that enables you to make quick, informed decisions. Whether you are applying or simply monitoring the programme, our team is here to share knowledge and guide you on your journey.”
The window is open. Let us talk about what is possible.
Whether you are ready to apply, need a feasibility assessment, or want to understand the competitive implications for your sector, Sokomi is ready to help.