Breaking News! ICANN Releases Draft of *Applicant Guidebook* for the Second Round of Top-Level Domain Openings and Launches Public Comment Period

On May 30, the official channels of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) formally released the draft of the Applicant Guidebook (AGB), which comprehensively introduces the detailed requirements of the application process.

【Seize the Initiative】ZDNS Interprets the Applicant Guidebook in Depth to Unlock Core Points of Top-Level Domain Application
As the core document for the second round of top-level domain opening projects, the Applicant Guidebook fully covers key dimensions such as operations, technology, finance, law, contract specifications, and application procedures. Its content directly affects the formulation of enterprise application strategies and preparation efficiency. Only by obtaining key information and advancing project preparation can enterprises seize the initiative.

• Application Fees: The evaluation fee for the next round of top-level domain applications is set at $227,000, covering the entire process of evaluation, signing, and authorization. However, applications for brand top-level domains and geographical top-level domains involve additional fees. Enterprises need to clarify the fee structure to avoid budget risks.
• Chinese Domain Names: ICANN has formulated the Root Zone Label Generation Rules (RZ-LGR) for Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) to determine the validity of top-level domain strings and their variants in different languages. Familiarizing with relevant policies, completing the layout of Chinese domain names, and seizing the initiative in localization is crucial.
• Application Process: The evaluation will be divided into two phases: (1) String evaluation; (2) Application and applicant evaluation. After that, the application will enter the signing process. Enterprises need to complete qualification evaluation and signing preparations in advance and control the time nodes.
• Similar Vocabulary: To avoid user confusion in the domain name system caused by similar strings, ICANN will conduct a string similarity evaluation on the submitted top-level domain names. This is extremely important for enterprises whose brand names are similar to domestic and foreign enterprise names/trademarks. They need to be alert to string similarity conflicts, conduct pre-investigations, and formulate relevant contingency plans.
  

The ZDNS top-level domain team has completed an in-depth analysis of the entire handbook (396 pages of the original English version) to help enterprises seize the initiative.

From Application to Hosting: Professional Institutions Safeguard the Second Round of Top-Level Domain Applications

Top-level domains, as the highest-level domain names, are vital infrastructure and fundamental resources of the Internet, as well as important digital assets for enterprises. Their secure, efficient, and stable operation is crucial. The effective operation of top-level domains requires full-process professional support covering application, compliance, hosting, and technical services. ICANN has announced that the second round of top-level domain applications will open in April 2026, but there are few institutions with full-process professional service qualifications.

In terms of application support, over the past decade, ZDNS has continuously participated in ICANN's policy discussions on top-level domains through the international Internet community, providing suggestions for policy formulation and mastering the policy requirements and process nodes of the second round of top-level domain openings. It strives to convey information on the allocation of top-level domain resources in the second round to Chinese enterprises and institutions, helping more Chinese brands complete the application for top-level domains. Currently, ZDNS has assisted 23 top-level domains worldwide in successfully applying for and operating in compliance.

In terms of technical platform operation, the compliant operation of top-level domains in China requires passing dual qualification reviews by ICANN and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), and data must be hosted on domestic top-level domain service platforms recognized by MIIT. During the first round of top-level domain openings in 2012, ZDNS was one of the only four institutions in China to obtain dual compliance from ICANN and MIIT, becoming a "full-license, full-qualification" institution in the domain name industry. In June 2018, .CO, through cooperation with the National Engineering Research Center for Internet Domain Names (ZDNS), obtained approval from China's MIIT, becoming the first overseas country and regional top-level domain to enter China.

ZDNS operates Asia's largest new top-level domain hosting service platform, providing services to 27 registry operators and 61 top-level domains worldwide. During the first round of top-level domain openings, the platform's technical parameters fully met ICANN's high standards for authoritative DNS, DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC), and other aspects, and there are only over 40 service providers worldwide that meet relevant standards.

ZDNS also continues to contribute to the technical standards of top-level domains, participating in the formulation of 8 industry standards, including Technical Requirements for Domain Name Registration Agreements Supporting DNSSEC in Internet New Generic Top-Level Domain Services and Technical Requirements for the Launch Period of Domain Name Registration Agreements in Internet New Generic Top-Level Domain Services.