Nearly one thousand new domain registrations in first half of 2017

A total of 948 new .ie domains were registered in Galway in the first half of 2017, according to the latest dot ie Domain Profile Report from the company that manages and maintains Ireland’s official country domain name.

That is an 18 percent year-on-year increase – almost mirroring the overall pictured in Connacht where new .ie domain registrations numbered 1,700, a 16 percent year-on-year increase.

A total 20,255 new .ie domains were registered in H1 2017, or 112 every day. This is an 11 percent increase on the same period last year and is the best half-year period for new .ie domain registrations since 2011.

SMEs, including corporate bodies and sole traders, made up 67 percent of all new .ie registrations in this period. There were 230,611 registered .ie domains by 30 June 2017, up 6 percent year-on-year.

“The remarkable half-year growth of .ie domain name registrations is a testament to the strength of the brand. SME owners and consumers alike recognise that .ie is ‘Identifiably Irish’, representing trust, authenticity and familiarity,” said David Curtin, Chief Executive of IEDR.

“The increase in registrations in Galway, and indeed in Connacht, during this period demonstrates this. An increasing number of SMEs understand the value of a website and, in particular, e-commerce,” he added.

However, he cautioned, there was still plenty of work to be done.

“While there has been strong national growth, much of it is concentrated around urban centres. Ireland still lacks a complete high-speed broadband network, and continued delays to the National Broadband Plan will not only disadvantage rural citizens, but stifle the growth of rural SMEs, making them less competitive.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.