The .AL domain is the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for the Republic of Albania, a country located in the South Eastern Europe. The maintenance and administration of the .AL domain are handled by AKEP, the Electronic and Postal Communications Authority in Albania. .AL domain has been active since 1992 and it’s an important digital representation of the nation for various personal, business, and other online activities related to Albania.
The .AL domain name registration is open to everyone, without any specific restriction concerning the applicant’s location. This openness means that not only residents and entities located within Albania can register a .AL domain, but also foreign individuals, businesses, and organizations can utilize these TLDs to establish an online presence associated with Albania.
Domains registered under the .AL ccTLD can have a length of two to 63 characters, excluding the .AL part. They must begin with a letter, can contain numbers, but special characters (such as &, $, #, @, ^, etc.) are not allowed. A .AL domain name registration is generally processed within 24 to 48 hours, but sometimes, it can take longer.
The .AL domain space also contains several second-level domains (SLDs), namely .com.al, .org.al, .net.al, .edu.al, and .gov.al, which are used to denote the nature and type of institutions owning the domain. For instance, .edu.al are typically used by educational institutions in Albania, while .gov.al are restricted to governmental organizations.
Using .AL domain not only provides your website with a professional touch but also increases its visibility among local internet users. Moreover, it aids in targeting a specific audience in Albania, increasing search engine prominence in local search results.
As per the historical evidence, the .AL domain was first documented in the IANA Root Zone Database. This IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority) Root Zone Database represents the delegation details of top-level domains, including ccTLDs like .AL. The database also records the technical information of the .AL domain, including the main server (SOA), name servers, and DNSSEC status. It also indicates the WHOIS server and the URL for further information related to the .AL domain.
In conclusion, the .AL domain is the internet country code for Albania, managed by AKEP. It offers an opportunity to individuals and organizations to create identified online strategies targeting Albanian-based audiences and to support a digital representation of Albania on the global internet map.
Sources used:
1. IANA — .al Domain Delegation Data. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.iana.org/domains/root/db/al.html
2. Albania’s .al Domain Names. EURid. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://eurid.eu/en/register-a-eu-domain/domain-names-around-the-globe/albania/
3. .AL – Dot AL Domain Registration – Register in Albania. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.marcaria.com/ws/en/domains/europe/al-domain-registration-al
4. Registry Policy for .AL. AKEP, Republic of Albania. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.akep.al/en/al-domains/policies/rules-for-registrars/
