The new rules will eliminate the need to renew domain names annually or biannually, reducing the risk of losing ownership of the domain
ISOC-IL revises domain name registration rules. As of January 1, 2020, domain names of websites and online services active in Israel can be registered and renewed for an extended period of up to five years – instead of two years allowed today. The upcoming extension benefits Israeli domain name holders, minimizing the chance of losing the rights to the domain name.
A domain name is the web address, aka URL, the user types in their browser when accessing websites and online services (for example, isoc.org.il or gmail.com). Because the domain name is a principal part of an organization’s digital identity, it usually features the name of the company, brand, or service. Domain names have a suffix that helps determine the website’s category or sector, as well as the country associated with the URL. ISOC-IL is responsible for allocating domains under the Israeli country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD) .il, including co.il, org.il, gov.il, etc.
As of today, the Israeli domain name registry managed by ISOC-IL holds close to 250,000 .il domain names. Similar to the situation in most countries, a nonprofit technological body runs Israel’s national registry. The Israel Internet Association oversees the activities of local registrars authorized to register the domain names in practice. This model ensures equal access and impartial allocation of resources, free of commercial or other considerations, for all applicants interested in registering a domain name.
The clear advantage of long-term registration or renewal of a domain name is mitigating the risk of losing control of this asset when users forget to extend it. That way, owners can guarantee their domain name continues to point to their online content, establishing an online reputation that improves the website’s search ranking. Registering for an extended period also saves time spent on renewing the domain every year or two.