The top-level domain (TLD) .VI is the Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) is the entity responsible for the global coordination of the DNS Root, IP addressing, and other Internet protocol resources including the reservation and delegation of TLDs such as .VI.
According to the IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority), the .VI TLD was delegated on October 3, 1995. It’s currently sponsored and managed by the Virgin Islands Public Telecommunications System, also known as VIPD.NET. The technical and administrative operations linked to the .VI TLD are handled by the University of the Virgin Islands.
One of the distinguishing factors of the .VI TLD is that it was originally intended to be used by entities connected with the U.S. Virgin Islands, such as businesses operating in the region, residents, or local institutions. That being said, registration policies have been relaxed over time and currently, there are no citizenship or residency requirements for registering a .VI TLD. Both individuals and organizations from around the world can generally register this TLD.
However, it’s important to note that under .VI policy, registrations that misrepresent registration eligibility are considered fraudulent and could lead to the cancellation of the domain name. More information regarding this can be found in the .VI domain name policy.
Domain names under .VI can be registered at both the second level and at the third level beneath various second-level categories. For example, co.vi, com.vi, k12.vi, etc.
As with any domain name, the use of .VI should be consistent with good faith, acceptable use policies, and local and international laws including, but not limited to, laws regarding intellectual property, privacy, and data protection.
The use of country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) such as .VI is one element that can help improve search engine optimization (SEO) within that specific country. However, since users globally can register under .VI, the geographic advantage may not be as significant as other more strictly controlled ccTLDs.
To sum it up, the .VI TLD is the internet country code top level domain for the U.S. Virgin Islands, with its use largely governed by the policies laid down by VIPD.NET. It serves a variety of purposes for individuals, businesses, and institutions associated with the U.S. Virgin Islands and further afield.
Sources:
- IANA — .vi Domain Delegation Data: https://data.iana.org/TLD/tlds-alpha-by-domain.txt
- VIPD.NET — Virgin Islands Domain Name Policy: http://www.nic.vi/policy.html
- Search engine optimization (SEO): https://developers.google.com/search/docs/beginner/seo-starter-guide
- University of the Virgin Islands: https://www.uvi.edu
