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ICANN has completed delegation of the .web top-level domain to the global DNS root. Delegation means the TLD now sits in the root zone, and once the registry opens registration and resolution, it can function like any other domain extension.
The official registry behind .web is Verisign, the world’s largest domain registry operator. Having Verisign run .web should prevent the brand-abuse problems that sometimes plague smaller registries. However, Verisign-managed domains tend to carry higher registration and renewal fees, which may give some users pause.
A Ten-Year Journey Tangled in Legal Fights
The story stretches back a decade. In July 2016, ICANN held a final auction for .web. A company called NuDotCo, working with Verisign, won the operating rights with a bid of $135 million.
Disputes erupted almost immediately. Altanovo Domains (formerly Afilias) and other parties filed objections. Multiple rounds of Independent Review Process proceedings followed, and .web remained offline throughout.
The core issue was straightforward. Verisign itself never entered the auction. Instead, it had secretly signed a proxy agreement with NuDotCo beforehand. NuDotCo bid on Verisign’s behalf, won, and then transferred the operating rights back. Critically, NuDotCo disclosed neither the proxy arrangement to ICANN nor updated its application materials. Rival registries argued that this conduct violated several compliance rules.
In June 2023, the ICANN board ruled that NuDotCo had not broken any regulations, so it allowed .web to proceed. By July 2026, every remaining dispute had been resolved. The specifics remain confidential and likely involved agreements among the competing registries. With the Altanovo IRP request withdrawn, ICANN formally completed the root-zone delegation.
Registration Expected in Late 2026
Verisign has announced the delegation in a press release. According to the company’s plan, .web registration will open to registrar channels during the second half of 2026. The rollout will follow the usual phases, starting with a Sunrise period and a limited registration window.
Industry practice dictates what happens next. Brand owners typically register first to prevent squatting. Names like google.web, for example, would be claimed by their rightful brand holders. Once that phase closes or expires, registrars gradually open the field to everyone.
After general availability begins, premium short domains will likely sell at steep surcharges. A single-letter name such as a.web, for instance, could command an extremely high price. Ordinary domains should open at the same time without a premium, although Verisign has not yet disclosed the standard pricing.
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