The top-level domain (TLD) .re is the Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Reunion Island, which is an overseas territory of France located in the Indian ocean. The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority(IANA) is responsible for maintaining the official list of all country-code and international TLDs.
Managed by AFNIC, the French Network Information Centre, it is intended to be used by entities connected to Reunion Island. However, its registration criteria does not impose any restrictions, effectively making it open to individuals and organizations worldwide. The island follows the same registration process as any other TLD. Some of the available secondary domains are .com.re, .nom.re, .tm.re, but a direct second level domain is also available(for examples, www.example.re).
The .re domain is quite popular for domain hacks, where the TLD becomes an integral part of the name, readable as whole words or phrases. For instance, the French word for ‘network’ is ‘reseau’, and a domain like www.mon-reseau.re would read as ‘my network’ in English. Not to mention, it can also be used for brand reinforcement, with company names ending with ‘re’ to strengthen and capitalize on their brand names – a good example is the desire.re domain for Desire fitness center in Scotland.
AFNIC’s 2020 annual report states that it has over 27,470 domain names with the .re extension. The association showed growth each year in registration rates for the .re TLD, reflecting its increasing adoption globally. The .re TLD can be a better option than the overcrowded .com as it offers a broader selection of available domain names and can provide a unique and catchy web address.
Regarding the security of the .re domains, AFNIC has implemented the DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions) protocol for safer search and data transfer tasks. This addition enhances the system’s security by checking the authenticity of domain name data received from DNS answers.
In conclusion, although the .re extension was primarily associated with Reunion Island, it is clear that this TLD has a much broader scope of possibilities, providing unique and dynamic options for domain name registration and brand identification. The increasing use of .re domains shows it developing into a versatile addition in the global digital landscape.
Sources:
1. The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority: https://data.iana.org/TLD/tlds-alpha-by-domain.txt
2. AFNIC – French Network Information Centre: https://www.afnic.fr/en/about-afnic/news/general-news/6988/show/afnic-publishes-its-2020-annual-report.html
3. AFNIC DNSSEC: https://www.afnic.fr/en/products-and-services/services/dnssec-8.html
4. Datalex – Domain Name & Trademark Database Search: https://www.datalex.de/registration_info/re/re_registration-policy.pdf
