This Autumn Wales gets two new internet addresses – .cymru and .wales

Internet addresses ending in .cymru and .wales for businesses and consumers have got the official thumbs up from ICANN. We will be offering these in a phased launch that starts on 1st September to support ‘brand Wales’, boost recognition overseas, help to attract investment, promote exports and grow the Welsh economy.

Ieuan Evans, Chair of the Nominet Welsh Advisory Group said: “Over the past two years we have worked with Welsh businesses and organisations to create an opportunity to brand Wales online and to strengthen the visibility and use of the Welsh language on the internet.  The execution of the .cymru and .wales contracts has made this dream a reality. 2014 is the year that we take Wales into the digital future.”

As well as a pledge of support from First Minister Carwyn Jones and Assembly Members from all parties, we have had an incredible level of support from businesses, organisations and consumers across Wales expressing a heartfelt interest in the new addresses.

A phased launch plan will allow those with a registered trademark to benefit first from registrations in September of this year, closely followed by businesses and organisations who can prove interests and use of a brand name in Wales even if they don’t have a trademark.  The final phase will see the addresses open up to everybody from 1st March 2015.

The .cymru and .wales domains will be managed by Nominet, the registry responsible for the smooth and secure running of .uk internet addresses. Antonia Seymour, Chief Commercial Officer, Nominet said: “We are delighted that after two years in the planning .cymru and .wales have got the green light. Now we are through to this stage, launch planning begins in earnest – this is a big opportunity for Wales to define its space on the internet and maximise the distinct identity of the country in both languages”.