The top-level domain (TLD) .PN is the Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Pitcairn Islands.
The Pitcairn Islands are a group of four volcanic islands in the southern Pacific Ocean that form the last British Overseas Territory in the Pacific. However, the fact that their digital suffix is more popular elsewhere can potentially be surprising. The PN domain is managed by the Pitcairn Island Administration and Island Networks. According to IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority), the responsible organization for .PN is the aforementioned Pitcairn Island Administration.
For historic purposes, it’s worth noting that at the dawn of the World Wide Web, only a few TLDs existed – .com, .org, .net, .int, .edu, .gov, .mil and a batch of Country-Code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs) based on a list of countries defined in ISO-3166. The .PN TLD falls under the category of ccTLDs, which are two-letter domains established by geographic location.
As of today, anyone can register .PN domain names. These domains can be registered for one year at a time and must have a minimum of 3 characters. Two character domains, as well as certain restricted domains (such as those that violate the standards of public morality or decency, or which may deceive the public, or have a tendency to deceive the public), cannot be registered.
Examples of usage of this TLD might be less common than commercial TLDs like .com or .net. This is predominantly because Pitcairn Islands, with a population of just about 50 people (as of 2020, according to the Pitcairn Islands Tourism), might not have a demand for domain names that is as high as in more populated territories.
The minimal activity associated with the .PN TLD could also be due to a limitation in online infrastructure. According to a UN Broadband Commission report from 2019, Pitcairn Islands is one of the few places globally that still does not have internet broadband.
As for purchasing a domain with a .PN TLD, there are different outlets to go about it. For example, Marcaria.com is a site where you can buy .PN domains.
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