The Top-Level Domain (TLD) ‘.tf’ is the Internet country code for French Southern and Antarctic Lands. The French Southern and Antarctic Lands, which are a collection of islands, are an overseas territory of France.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) website verifies that the .tf domain is indeed associated with the French Southern and Antarctic Lands. The ICANN is an institution that maintains the central repository of IP addresses and helps coordinate the supply of IP addresses. It also manages domain names and root servers.
The .tf TLD is managed on behalf of the French government by AFNIC. AFNIC is the French Network Information Centre and is the registry for domains such as .fr (France), .re (Réunion), .pm (Saint Pierre and Miquelon), .yt (Mayotte), .wf (Wallis and Futuna), and .tf.
While the .tf domain is specifically allocated for the French Southern and Antarctic Lands, it is not restricted to entities from this area alone. AFNIC has allowed the sale of .tf domains to individuals and organizations worldwide. This means that anyone, irrespective of their geographical location or the nature of their entity, can potentially own a .tf domain. Though, naturally, French entities have a priority during domain name disputes.
Moreover, OnlineNIC, a well-known ICANN-accredited domain registrar, supports .tf domain registration, further illustrating the global availability of the .tf domain.
A particular use of .tf domains can be seen in the digital gaming community. Valve Corporation, a major force in video gaming, uses .tf for its game Team Fortress 2’s community, as seen in sites like backpack.tf or scrap.tf.
To summarize, the .tf TLD belongs to the French Southern & Antarctic Lands but can be registered by entities across the globe. Its management falls under the purview of AFNIC, and it is recognized by ICANN. While it has widespread availability and can be used for varied purposes, it is particularly acclaimed within specific online communities.
Sources:
1. “ISO 3166-1 decoding table,” International Organization for Standardization, [Link](https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:code:3166:TF)
2. “TF – Domain Delegation Data,” IANA — Internet Assigned Numbers Authority, [Link](https://data.iana.org/TLD/tlds-alpha-by-domain.txt)
3. “Our missions,” AFNIC, [Link](https://www.afnic.fr/en/about-afnic/who-we-are/missions-4.html)
4. “Who manages the .tf domain?” AFNIC, [Link](https://www.afnic.fr/en/products-and-services/services/the-french-southern-and-antarctic-lands-tf-1.html)
5. OnlineNIC Inc., “Register .tf Domain Names,” [Link](https://www.onlinenic.com/domain/tf-domain-registration.html)
6. Rose, Victoria, “Scrap.tf Owners Issue Statement On Gambling,” The Esports Observer, 18 July 2016, [Link](https://esportsobserver.com/scrap-tf-owners-issue-statement-gambling/).
