最近因為「The Disappearance of an Internet Domain」這篇文章的關係,大家在討論 .io 網域後續的存廢問題。
起因是英國放棄了英屬印度洋領地 (British Indian Ocean Territory) 的主權/統治權 (sovereignty),交還給模里西斯:「UK and Mauritius joint statement, 3 October 2024」。
而這觸發了 ccTLD 的消滅條件,這邊用維基百科的說明:
With the United Kingdom giving up sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius (but maintaining the military base on Diego Garcia via an initial 99 year lease), it is possible under IANA rules, the .io domain will eventually have to be phased out within the following several years, although historically, some exceptions been granted, as was the case for .su.
不過就如同作者提到的,.io 網域實在太多人用了,而且受到許多人的熱愛,或者講的更直接的「是個金雞母」,在金錢的面前,大量的遊說很有可能會使得 IANA 修正現有條款,或是開出例外條款:
The IANA may fudge its own rules and allow .io to continue to exist. Money talks, and there is a lot of it tied up in .io domains.
接下來應該會有會議討論看怎麼玩...
我來猜個可能性... 最後會改 rule,以後這種 ccTLD 通通會變成 gTLD 的模式,拿到商業市場上競標 & 賣給廠商營運?畢竟兩個字實在太香了...