About the .BERLIN new gTLD

The Internet is becoming more local and search enquiries increasingly concern the Internet user's local environment. Domains are also a scarce resource and it is becoming increasingly difficult to register sensible new addresses that contain one of the current domain endings. The logical consequence is thus to extend the Internet's namespace to take account of these developments.

In the future, with .berlin domains, companies, private individuals and organisations will be able to register Internet addresses such as zoo.berlin or painter.berlin. The company dotBERLIN represents all Berliners in applying for the .berlin top-level domain so as to provide the basis for Berliners and their organisations to register their own domains with the ending .berlin. dotBERLIN is the first initiative worldwide for a city top-level domain; other metropolises like New York , Paris, and Barcelona followed this trend with campaigns for their respective city top-level domain (e.g. .nyc for New York City).

The responsible organisation, ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), is expected to announce the dates of the window for applications for new top-level domains in the first half of next year. Until then, we are working on producing the application documentation as well as supporting ICANN with the guideline procedures for new top-level domains. Following the introduction of .berlin, dotBerlin expects that domains can be registered from next year.

dotBERLIN's Vision

.berlin is the independent top-level domain of the community of Berliners on the Internet. The local addresses available with this are concise and create an identity for citizens, companies and institutions alike. Those providing and looking for information, goods and services can thus intuitively come together to sites featuring the .berlin ending. .berlin domains strengthen the feeling of community amongst Berliners, improve communication and make interaction easier, thus providing a stimulus for innovation and development. Both for Berliners and for non-Berliners, places called Berlin become more attractive as a place to visit, as a commercial location and as a place to live.

dotBERLIN's Mission

dotBERLIN's mission is to support the many and varied interests of Berliners and their community with the top-level domain .berlin and to give Berliners, their locations, their companies and organisations a Berlin identity on the Internet.

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Secure your chance to own one of the upcoming new top-level domains by pre-registering your desired domain name now.

We will attempt to register your reserved domains as soon as this becomes possible thereby increasing your chances of owing one of the new TLDs.

Additionally, by pre-registering, you won't miss any of the registration deadlines. The pre-registration process is free; no processing fees will apply.

Only in the case that you do wish to register any reserved domains will you be charged a fee. Unfortunately there is no guarantee that we can successfully register all desired, pre-registered domains.

» Visit new gTLD FAQ page.