Anguilla’s .ai domain will now be exclusively managed by Identity Digital following the successful migration of registry services.
In a press release published on 15 January, the global domain registrar based in the United States said the transition was seamless and there was no downtime or disruption.
“The transition marks the beginning of a new era for .ai and Anguilla,” the company said, adding: “We couldn’t be more thrilled for what this means for Anguilla.”
Identity Digital signed a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Anguilla last October to manage the .ai top-level domain for five years.
In the recent press release, Premier Ellis Webster congratulated the company on the successful transition.
“This incredible milestone not only strengthens Anguilla’s digital infrastructure, but also opens doors to more opportunities, economic growth, and global connectivity,” he said.
Benefits
Today, .ai domain name registrations are at an all-time high, with about 600,000 domains registered and 164 retailers offering .ai globally.
“This means that more than 90% of registrars worldwide can now sell .ai domains, giving Anguilla access to a new global distribution channel,” Identity Digital said.
The migration also brings a range of enhancements, including 24/7 global support and an expanding list of features for registrars, businesses, and entrepreneurs.
The company emphasised the broader economic impact, stating that the domain’s growth will help diversify Anguilla’s economy and build a digitally connected island.
“In this future, .ai will continue to be a central hub for innovation that will substantially advance Anguilla’s digital transformation,” it added.
A big earner
The use of .ai domains generated 20 percent of the government’s total revenue in 2023.
In his December budget address, Premier Ellis Webster projected that the government would earn more than EC$100 million from .ai domain registrations in 2024.
Webster, who also serves as finance minister, added that the government looks forward to even stronger performance in this area in 2025.
“This new partnership with Identity Digital will take the management of this domain to the next level, ensuring that its benefits extend directly to the people of Anguilla,” he said in October.
The premier has previously said the company will charge a small percentage of the domain registration costs for the company’s services, but he did not provide further details.
Identity Digital has the world’s largest portfolio of top-level domains and manages the domains of countries and territories around the world, including Belize, Antigua, St Lucia and St Vincent.
