Background: What Is the New gTLD Program?

ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) oversees the global domain name system. In 2012, it launched the first round of its New Generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) Program, which resulted in over 1,200 new TLDs entering the root — from .academy to .zone.

After more than a decade of evaluation and policy development, ICANN is now progressing with a second application round, widely referred to as the "Next Round." This is the most significant expansion of the internet's namespace since the first round, and it has major implications for businesses, domain investors, and internet users worldwide.

What's New in Round 2?

ICANN and the domain community have used the decade-plus since Round 1 to identify improvements. Key developments in the next round include:

  • Lower barriers to entry: ICANN has worked to make the application process more accessible to applicants from developing countries and smaller organizations, including fee support programs.
  • Improved evaluation processes: Lessons learned from Round 1 delays and legal disputes have shaped more efficient processes for contention resolution.
  • Ongoing policy updates: The GNSO (Generic Names Supporting Organization) has finalized several policies around things like geographic names, community applications, and registry operators.
  • Digital Archival Project: Application materials will be publicly archived to increase transparency.

Timeline and Application Window

ICANN has been developing the Applicant Guidebook (AGB) for Round 2 over several years. As of early 2025, the community is in an advanced stage of preparation, with the formal application window expected to open. The timeline has shifted multiple times due to the complexity of policy development, but key milestones now appear to be on a firm track.

Prospective applicants are advised to monitor the ICANN.org website and sign up for the New gTLD Program updates mailing list for official announcements.

What Could New TLDs Look Like?

While no applications have been publicly announced yet, industry observers expect the next round to include:

  • Brand TLDs: Large corporations applying for their own extension (e.g., .apple, .amazon).
  • Geographic TLDs: Cities and regions applying for extensions like .london additions or new regional identifiers.
  • Community TLDs: Industry groups and communities applying for descriptive extensions relevant to their sector.
  • IDN (Internationalized) TLDs: Non-Latin script TLDs expanding the internet's accessibility in languages like Arabic, Chinese, and Devanagari.

Implications for Domain Investors

The announcement of new TLDs creates several dynamics of interest to domain investors:

  • Early registration opportunities: New TLDs typically offer a Sunrise period (for trademark holders) followed by general availability. Being early in GA on a promising new TLD can yield valuable registrations.
  • Competing with applicants: If a company applies for a brand TLD and it overlaps with a generic term, there can be contention and legal complexity.
  • Market saturation considerations: More TLDs generally means more supply, which can pressure the value of non-.com extensions in the secondary market.

How Registrars Are Preparing

Major registrars including GoDaddy, Namecheap, and Cloudflare Registrar are closely monitoring the process to ensure they can offer new TLDs to customers promptly at launch. Registrar accreditation with the new registries will be a behind-the-scenes process that happens before public availability.

What Domain Registrants Should Do Now

  1. Monitor ICANN's communications via icann.org for official dates and application guidelines.
  2. Assess whether you have a legitimate claim for a community or brand TLD application before the window opens.
  3. Protect your trademark by enrolling in the Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH), which grants priority access during Sunrise periods for all new TLD launches.
  4. Don't speculate recklessly: While new TLDs create opportunities, most have far lower adoption rates than .com. Research carefully before investing heavily in new extensions.

Looking Ahead

The New gTLD Round 2 represents a pivotal moment for the domain industry. Whether you're a business protecting your brand, an investor seeking early opportunities, or simply someone curious about the future of internet addresses, the next year or two will bring significant developments worth following closely.