![ICANN introduces its first top-level domains using non-Latin characters](https://img-cdn.tnwcdn.com/image?fit=1280%2C720&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn0.tnwcdn.com%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F1%2Ffiles%2F2013%2F10%2Ficann.jpg&signature=84245a16e43619eeedc6e3f41c58e837)
ICANN announced today that it has begun its expansion of new top-level domains, including the first names that use non-Latin characters, such as Arabic, Cyrillic and Chinese.
The expansion will take the number of generic top-level domains (gTLDs) from 22 to 1,400. Non-Latin domain strings include:
- شبكة (xn--ngbc5azd) – Arabic for “web/network”
Registry: International Domain Registry Pty. Ltd. - онлайн (xn--80asehdb) – Cyrillic for “online”
Registry: CORE Association - сайт (xn--80aswg) – Cyrillic for “site”
Registry: CORE Association - 游戏(xn--unup4y) – Chinese for “game(s)”
Registry: Spring Fields, LLC
Domain registries will undergo a 30-day waiting period for trademark owners to protect their marks before the new gTLDs take effect.
➤ Internet Domain Name Expansion Now Underway [ICANN.org]
Thumbnail credit: Andrew Cowie / AFP / Getty Images
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