News archive
.ee Domain Name Trends: Cars Still Capture Estonians' Hearts
In the third quarter of 2024, over 6,000 new .ee domains were registered, and annual growth reached 6.4% by the beginning of October. While domain renewals have increased, cancellations have also followed a similar trend. New domain registrations provide valuable insights into emerging businesses and service offerings.
One clear trend is that cars remain a top interest for Estonians, with no other topic coming close to challenging its dominance for quite some time. However, for the first time, there has been a sharp increase in the use of keywords related to casinos and betting in .ee domain names. This trend likely reflects companies' efforts to protect their brand names. At the same time, it signals a growing demand for such services.
Several keywords related to Estonia and home are still in active use. While Tartu saw a rise in domain name popularity earlier this year, that trend has tapered off, and Tallinn has maintained its leading position from recent months. Unsurprisingly, Estonians' interest in digital technology, artificial intelligence, and innovation continues to influence domain registrations. The word "fit" also stands out, reflecting a growing interest in exercise and sports. Additionally, words ending in “tr” have grown in popularity again, likely due to their compatibility with the .ee domain ending.
Keywords related to creative fields, such as “art” and “design,” have seen fewer registrations recently. Similarly, keywords related to school, education, and weddings, which typically peak during the summer months, have receded into the background. This shows the seasonal nature of some terms. Although many of the most popular keywords are still in Estonian, there has been a noticeable increase in the use of English words.
In summary, the domain names registered in the third quarter of this year reflect the diversity of start-up companies and the growing need to secure brand-related domain names. The .ee domain is becoming increasingly international in terms of both its registrants and usage, offering significant value to both local and global companies looking to engage with the Estonian market.
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News
ICANN
ICANN85: DNS Abuse, AI, and the Future of the Internet
At the start of March, the global internet community gathered in Mumbai for another ICANN meeting. This time, the focus was on community topics, and the Estonian Internet Foundation was there to take part in the discussions. As expected, the main themes included the next round of generic domains, the WSIS+20 process, and the ongoing challenge of DNS abuse. At the same time, the meeting offered a valuable chance to share experiences and learn from others.
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Projects
Supporting Community Projects: What Impact Did .EE Achieve Last Year?
Every year, the Estonian Internet Foundation (EIS) supports projects that help grow and strengthen Estonia’s internet community. Over the years, our funding round has helped launch many initiatives, events, competitions, and educational programs. Now it’s a good moment to look back and see what the projects supported last year achieved.
Domain Registries in a Regulatory Maze: Reflections from the CENTR Legal & Regulatory Meeting in Stockholm
I participated in the CENTR Legal & Regulatory (L&R) working group meeting in Stockholm, where legal experts from European domain registries gathered to exchange views. This time, the focus was on the growing body of European Union legislation that increasingly shapes our daily work — rules we must constantly interpret, analyse, and implement in practice.