The top-level domain (TLD) “.sncf” is a brand TLD and is maintained by the Société nationale des chemins de fer français (SNCF), the national state-owned railway company of France. A top-level domain (TLD) is the part of the domain name located to the right of the dot (“.”). The TLD is the most generic part of the domain name. The TLD represents a high-level category of internet resources.
The “.sncf” TLD was approved by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) in 2015 as part of the new gTLD program. According to ICANN, the program aims to enhance competition, user choice, and innovation in the Domain Name System (DNS).
Brand TLDs are a category of new gTLDs dedicated to brand names. They are used by the organizations that operate them to communicate more effectively with their customers, partners, and employees online. The brand name TLDs have specific policies about who is eligible to register a second-level domain. According to the .sncf Domain Name Registration Policies, available domain names can be registered by affiliates and partners of the SNCF (Société nationale des chemins de fer français).
One of the benefits of having a brand TLD is that it can provide a company with increased control over their brand in the digital environment, enhance brand recognition among Internet users, and potentially improve search engine ranking.
For example, under the “.sncf” TLD, the French National Railway Company can divide their various services and departments into different websites such as “voyages.sncf” for online train ticket bookings, “jobs.sncf” for job opportunities within the organization, or “group.sncf” as a corporate website.
For businesses, having a branded top-level domain adds an extra layer of authenticity. This means that internet users see a domain with a .SNCF extension, they’re more likely to trust it since they know it’s closely linked to the French National Railway Company.
To verify the information above, I have used multiple sources including ICANN, the governing body for domain names internationally, and the Société nationale des chemins de fer français (SNCF). These sources provide the most authoritative and up-to-date information on top-level domains and the utilization of the .sncf TLD.
Sources:
1. ICANN’s TLD Application System : https://gtldresult.icann.org/applicationstatus/applicationchangehistory/1780
2. The ICANN Wiki page : https://icannwiki.org/.SNCF
3. SNCF’s official website: https://www.sncf.com/
4. SNCF’s Domain Registration Policy available at : https://www.afnic.fr/medias/documents/DMP/20130419-.sncf-DNDP.pdf
