The top-level domain (TLD) .ki is a country code top-level domain (ccTLD) that is assigned to the Pacific island nation of Kiribati. Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), which is globally responsible for coordinating components of the internet’s infrastructure, such as the allocation and assignment of unique domain names, recognizes and oversees all ccTLD, including .ki.
According to IANA, TLD .ki is managed by Telecommunications Authority of Kiribati, located in the country’s capital, Tarawa. The sponsoring organization is essentially responsible for managing all domains that end with .ki.
The .ki TLD was created in April 1995 and is available to any organization or individuals globally, not just residents of Kiribati. However, its usage is quite limited due to the small population of the country and the limited IT infrastructure within the island nation. This is common with ccTLDs of small, less-technologically advanced nations.
While .ki domain usage is not extensive, it does exist. For example, the official website of the government of Kiribati (www.president.gov.ki) uses this TLD. It is also used by several businesses operating or based in Kiribati, such as maritime companies or tourism industry businesses.
To register a .ki domain, one would typically go through a domain registrar accredited by the Kiribati Telecommunications Authority. Different registrars may have different fees and processes for registering a .ki domain. One of the widely known registrars that offer .ki domains is Marcaria, a company specialized in global domain registration.
For those seeking a level of exclusivity or a novel approach to domain naming, ccTLDs like .ki can present interesting opportunities. For instance, certain words or phrases ending in ‘ki’ could be creatively represented using this TLD. Examples could include “sushima.ki”, “saki”, etc.
It’s worth noting that using less common TLDs can sometimes come with challenges, including possible technical complications or reduced search engine visibility when compared with more mainstream TLDs like .com or .org.
The information sources used to construct this answer include the IANA website ( https://www.iana.org/domains/root/db/ki.html ), the official website of the government of The Republic of Kiribati ( http://www.president.gov.ki/ ), and Marcaria, a global domain registrar (https://www.marcaria.com/ws/en/domains/asia-pacific/kiribati-domain-registration-ki).
