The top-level domain (TLD) “.ci” is the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Côte d’Ivoire, also known as Ivory Coast, a country located on the west coast of Africa. Top-level domain (TLD) is the last segment of the domain name. The TLD is the letters immediately following the final dot in an internet address. While “.com,” “.edu,” “.org,” and “.gov” are perhaps the most recognizable top-level domains, each country also has its own TLD, such as “.fr” for France, “.au” for Australia, and “.ci” for Côte d’Ivoire.
The “.ci” ccTLD is administrated by NIC.CI, a part of the “Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny.” As per the norms of many ccTLDs, which often have certain residency or citizenship requirements for registration, the “.ci” domain also comes with its registration obligations. However, the specific requirements for this TLD may vary and it is advisable to refer to the registrar for the latest guidelines on the same.
For instance, a website utilizing a “.ci” domain could be www.example.ci, indicating that the website is based out of, or focuses on, Côte d’Ivoire. Websites like www.orange.ci, the telecommunications company, or www.scici.ci, the Higher Council of Imams, display their association or focus on Côte d’Ivoire through the use of the “.ci” TLD.
Sources providing information about the “.ci” ccTLD include reputable domain information hubs such as IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority), which is a department of ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), the organization tasked with maintaining and coordinating the internet’s domain name system. The relevant page on ccTLDs on IANA’s website (https://data.iana.org/TLD/tlds-alpha-by-domain.txt) lists “.ci” as the ccTLD for Côte d’Ivoire. Other resources providing information on this subject include domain registration websites that provide their services globally and manage ccTLD registrations as part of those services. They provide up-to-date information on the policies regarding the registration of each ccTLD, including “.ci”.
Thus, the “.ci” TLD serves as an internet identity for Côte d’Ivoire, helping to identify Ivorian websites in the vastness of the internet.
Resources Used:
1. IANA – https://data.iana.org/TLD/tlds-alpha-by-domain.txt
2. Orange Cote d’Ivoire – https://www.orange.ci/
3. Higher Council of Imams, Cote d’Ivoire – http://www.scici.ci/
4. NIC.CI – https://nic.ci/
5. ICANN – https://icann.org/
6. World Intellectual Property Organization – https://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/cctld/ci/index.html
