The top-level domain (TLD) “.mc” is the internet country code for the Principality of Monaco, a small sovereign city-state located on the French Riviera in Western Europe. This code, as authorized by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), is operated by the Monegasque-registered company Monaco Telecom. Each country has its specific TLD, for example, “.us” for the United States, “.fr” for France, and “.jp” for Japan.
The “.mc” domain is primarily intended for use by entities connected with the principality, although there are no specific restriction or residency requirements. It is a way for the businesses, organizations, institutions, and individuals in Monaco to identify themselves as being from that location and to leverage the prestige and distinction that is associated with being based in one of the world’s wealthiest and most glamorous destinations.
One notable example of a website that uses the “.mc” TLD is the official website of the Prince’s Palace of Monaco, which can be found at www.palais.mc. This website provides information about the royal family and the history of the palace, as well as visitor information and news updates. Similarly, another example is the Monaco Government Tourist Office’s site, www.visitmonaco.com, which offers extensive travel and tourism information about the principality.
The “.mc” domain also has a wide range of potential applications in the e-commerce, luxury brand, and hospitality industries. The combination of a recognizable global brand and the lack of residency requirements can make the “.mc” TLD particularly attractive for businesses in those sectors aiming to associate their online presences with the luxury, wealth, and sophistication that Monaco represents.
However, it should be noted that the “.mc” TLD is not as widely used as more generic ones like “.com” or “.org”. According to data from DomainTools, as of October 2021, there are only about 2,300 active “.mc” domain names. In contrast, there are over 150 million “.com” domains and over 10 million “.org” domains.
Sources:
1. IANA — .mc Domain Delegation Data. (n.d.) IANA.org. Retrieved October 7, 2021, https://www.iana.org/domains/root/db/mc.html.
2. DomainTools – TLD Statistics. (2021, October) DomainTools.com. Retrieved October 7, 2021, https://research.domaintools.com/statistics/tld-counts/.
3. Le Palais Princier de Monaco. (n.d.) Palais.mc. Retrieved October 7, 2021, https://www.palais.mc/.
4. Monaco Government Tourist Office. (n.d.) Visitmonaco.com. Retrieved October 7, 2021, https://www.visitmonaco.com/.
