The .om top-level domain (TLD) is the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) specifically assigned to the Sultanate of Oman, a country located in the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia.
Country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) are a part of the Domain Name System (DNS) of the internet, and they are the highest level in the DNS hierarchy. Country code TLDs are designated for individual countries or territories, and the two-letter codes for these ccTLDs are derived from ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country codes – an international standard that outlines short codes for the names of countries, dependent territories, and special areas of geographical interest. Here’s an example, the ‘us’ TLD is for the United States, ‘fr’ TLD is for France, and the ‘om’ TLD is for Oman. (Source: “Domain Names – Implementation and Specification.” Internet Engineering Task Force.)
Registry services for the “.om” TLD are administered by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of Oman. TRA is responsible for the regulation and upkeep of the “.om” TLD, making sure that the system operates smoothly and effectively to serve the needs of users in the country.
The “.om” TLD can be used by individuals, organizations, or businesses based in Oman, or those who have a presence or local interest in the country. However, according to the TRA Oman’s Domain Name Registration Policy, in order to register a “.om” domain name, the registrant must either be an Omani national, residing in Oman, or a company/organization established under the Omani law. Exceptions may occur for foreigners who have a license to conduct commercial business in Oman.
As for technical management, Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) are usually implemented on a ccTLD to provide origin authentication and integrity verification to DNS data. It’s designed to protect the DNS from certain types of attacks, such as DNS spoofing.
In terms of dispute resolution, domain name disputes for the “.om” ccTLD are generally handled by Oman’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority. If there are any disputes that involve the “.om” ccTLD, the involved parties are required to submit their cases for arbitration, as per TRA’s established Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy.
In terms of examples, www.oman.om is a portal maintained by the Oman government, which uses the “.om” TLD.
This technical description of the “.om” TLD is sourced from documents and principles established by various authoritative bodies like the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority, ISO 3166 Maintenance Agency, and the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Oman.
Sources:
- Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, Oman. “Domain Name Registration Policies.” TRA Oman.
- Postel, J., & Reynolds, J. (1984). Domain names – concepts and facilities. Internet Engineering Task Force.
- ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers).
- ISO 3166 Maintenance Agency. Islands in ISO 3166-1. International Organization for Standardization.
