The top-level domain (TLD) “.mr” is a country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Mauritania, a country located in Northwest Africa. This distinctive domain extension allows businesses, organizations, or individuals associated with Mauritania to establish their digital presence.
A ccTLD functions as part of the domain name structure utilized worldwide. It designates the connection a particular website or email has with a country, specific geographical location, or territory. The Information Sciences Institute of the University of Southern California developed this system as they originated the Domain Name System (DNS) structure, which maintains the internet’s functionality (“DNS Root Name Servers Explained”, 2020).
According to the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) database, which maintains the official directory of TLDs, the sponsoring organization for “.mr” domain is the ‘Universite de Nouakchott Al Aasriya’. This university, essentially, is responsible for all matters concerning the “.mr” domain (“Delegation Record for .MR”, n.d.).
With the “.mr” domain extension, Mauritanian businesses, non-profit organizations, or individuals can distinguish themselves as entities associated with this country. For instance, a local retail business might use a website with a “.mr” domain to present itself authentically to Mauritanian customers and distinguish itself from international competitors.
Despite these benefits, a report by “.mr” Registry concluded that the uptake of “.mr” domains is somewhat limited. This could be due to limited internet infrastructure in the country, or a lack of awareness about the advantages of having a ccTLD (Mauritanian Communications Ministry, 2012).
Whether a “.mr” domain name is the right decision for a business or individual depends on their unique circumstances. However, if a strong connection with Mauritania is crucial, a “.mr” ccTLD may certainly help provide that localized, authentic presence in the digital world.
Sources:
1. “DNS Root Name Servers Explained For Dummies”. (2020, December 14). Retrieved from https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/dns/glossary/dns-root-server/
1. “Delegation Record for .MR”. Retrieved from https://www.iana.org/domains/root/db/mr.html
1. “Communications in Mauritania”. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.mauritania.mr/communications/
