The top-level domain (TLD) .bb is the Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Barbados, a small island country in the Caribbean. ICANN, the international organization in charge of allocating TLDs, assigns two-letter ccTLDs based on a country’s ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code.
Managed by the Telecoms Unit, Ministry of Energy, Small Business and Entrepreneurship in Barbados, .bb’s usage is subject to local Barbadian laws and regulations. This means that companies, organizations, and individuals looking to register a .bb domain may first need to establish a physical or legal presence in Barbados. Moreover, appointments for domain registrations are made by submitting an application directly to the Telecoms Unit, and require approval from the relevant authorities.
One of the more widely recognized users of the .bb TLD is the government of Barbados, which uses www.gov.bb as their official government website. Furthermore, many locally operating businesses and organizations, such as the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) with the domain www.bhta.bb, also use .bb for their web presence, strengthening local brand identity and helping residents and tourists easily identify and access local resources online.
It should be noted, however, that given the relatively small size and population of Barbados, as well as the heightened focus on localized web presence, .bb is not as widely used as other ccTLDs, like .us for the United States or .uk for the United Kingdom.
Yet, for the island of Barbados, having a unique ccTLD still proves significant. The .bb domain adds a sense of national identity, authenticity and local relevance to websites. For businesses and organizations, having a .bb domain could enhance their brand reputation in the country and the Caribbean at large.
Sources:
- “ICANN-” About TLDs.” Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/tlds-2012-02-25-en
- “ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 – Barbados.” International Organization for Standardization (ISO). https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:code:3166:BB
- “Telecoms Unit.” Ministry of Energy, Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Government of Barbados. http://www.telecoms.gov.bb/
- “Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association.” BHTA Website. http://www.bhta.bb/
- “Government of Barbados.” Official Barbados Government website. http://www.gov.bb/
- “Country Code TLDs.” World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). https://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/cctlds/
