Start of .SO General Availability with Key-Systems

The introduction process for the Somali domain extensions .SO, .COM.SO, .NET.SO and .ORG.SO will be completed with the start of General Availability on April 1. From then on, domain names can be registered following the "first-come, first served" principle. “Many memorable .SO domain names are still available”, says Key-Systems’ CEO Alexander Siffrin. “At the start of General Availability, you have the highest chance to register the desired domain name first.”

The policy for the TLD .SO is liberal, there are no restrictions concerning the registrants, no local presence service is needed. The registration period for domains registered during General Availability has to be at least one year and maximum ten years. .SO domain names must be made up of a minimum of 3 characters and a maximum of 63 characters (excluding the extension). Only the Latin alphabet letters a-z, digits, and hyphens will be accepted.

Domain names beginning or ending with hyphens, as well as domain names with hyphens on the third and fourth position are prohibited. Technical operator of .SO is the Japanese company GMO Registry, for the operative tasks the Somali SO registry is responsible. The “sponsoring organization” of the TLD is the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications of Somalia.