The top-level domain (TLD) “.tg” is the Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Togo. A top-level domain is one of the domains at the highest level in the hierarchical Domain Name System (DNS) of the Internet. .tg is assigned to Togo much like .us is assigned to the United States, .uk to the United Kingdom, or .jp to Japan.
The administration of these TLDs is performed by specific organizations known as registry operators, and in the case of .tg, it is managed by Cafe Informatique et Telecommunications, a Togo-based company which deals with advanced communications technologies.
As with most ccTLDs, the aim of .tg is to provide an online identification that is associated with Togo. This means that individuals, businesses, or organisations that are based in or have some other connection to Togo may choose to use a .tg domain to emphasize this connection.
Registrations are processed via accredited registrars. In the case of .tg, the domain is open to everyone, without restriction, and thus not limited to entities or citizens based in Togo. This is similar to the policies introduced in many ccTLDs in recent years, aimed at increasing the use and revenue generated from domain registration.
It is important to note that irrespective of the visual appearance of the domain name, it always transcribes into an IP address. For example, the domain name “www.example.tg” will be understood by the DNS, and then it will convert it into the corresponding IP address to load the website.
In terms of examples, let’s take a well-known public entity, such as the Togo First (togofirst.com), a business news outlet in Togo. They used .com instead of .tg, probably to reach a larger, global audience. Usually, for a more local reach, .tg would be the preferred choice. A simple Google search can reveal businesses using the .tg domain, such as the Hotel Napoleon Lagune (hotelnapoleonlagune.tg).
The information for this brief was sourced from reputable resources including the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) who manages the DNS Root Zone and the World Intellectual Property Organization, an agency of the United Nations, who run the Arbitration and Mediation center dealing with disputes relating to the registration and use of domain names.
