First candidates for some gTLDs announced submitting applications to ICANN. Domains that represent specific territories-cities, regions, geographical areas are subject to stricter requirements than new gTLDs. Therefore, to have the right of administering such domain, the future registry must also have the support of the authorities of the respective regions and countries.
Wales: country or territory?
An interesting candidate for two new gTLDs is Wales. Formally, the country is partly independent, however de jure it is a part of Great Britain, therefore it shall not have the right to receive a two–letter gTLD in general order. Due to the registration program of new gTLDs, if the application succeeds, Wales may instantly receive two own gTLds - .wales and cymru (wales in Welsh).The application for registration of these two gTLDs will be submitted by Nominet, registry of the domain .uk. It is worth mentioning that Nominet is also likely to be a candidate for the Registry of domain .london.
Fight for .africa
The African Union is going to support the Uniforum application which is the registry of the South African domain .za for the domain .africa. Organization. For the second candidate for a new gTLD-DotConnectAfrica Company this decision means the collapse of a long campaign for the application support. In August of 2009 the company received a letter of support from the African Union, however, last year it was revoked. Nevertheless, DotConnectAfrica is planning to submit an application for domain .africa irrespective of the African Union decision.
Domains of Australian cities
The winner of the applicant tender for Australian domains .melbourne , .sydney and .victoria is ARI Registry Services. This organization won the right to submit an application to ICANN. This organization is a daughter company of AusRegistry Group, the Registry of gTLD .au. The Authorities of Australian states - New South Wales and Victoria, claimed in support of this application. ARI informs that Melbourne IT and Consulting Agency Ernst & Young are also going to contribute into the preparation of the final application.
