New .ie domain registrations jump 30% following registration rule change
51,040 new .ie domains were registered in 2018, up +29% on 2017, according to our latest .ie Domain Profile Report. The total .ie domain database recorded 262,140 active domains at the end of 2018, up +10% on the previous year.
In this edition of the .ie Domain Profile Report, we explore the numbers and types of .ie domains registered in 2018, where they were registered, as well as information about the wider .ie domain ecosystem.
Key facts
Easier and faster
The large year-on-year growth demonstrates the success of the changes we made to the .ie domain registration process in March 2018.
It is now easier and faster to register a .ie domain. Applicants only need to provide one document to prove identity and a connection to Ireland. Returning customers do not need to re-submit any documents and can avail of a new FastPass system.
Other findings
– 81% of all .ie domains are owned by businesses, indicating a national understanding of the value of digital business and marketing.
– In many Border, Midlands and West region counties, new .ie domain registration growth was higher than in Dublin.
– The increase in domains registered by individuals suggests a positive impact of the relaxation of .ie registration rules to allow nicknames and geographical names, along with the rising popularity of .ie for personal branding purposes.
– There was a +59% increase in the number of .ie domain names registered by international users.
– Dublin registered the lion’s share of new .ie domains in 2018 (43%), followed by Cork and Galway.
– The number of .ie websites with SSL security certificates increased by +37.9% quarter-on-quarter (Q3 vs Q2 2018)* after Google Chrome introduced a new feature that warns users about potentially unsafe sites.
Commenting on the .ie Domain Profile Report 2018, our CEO David Curtin said
“2018 was a record-breaking year for .ie, and much of that success is owed to the registration rule change. We’ve made it easier and faster to register a .ie domain.
“Businesses and the self-employed continue to use their .ie websites to reach out and sell to new customers, and now increasingly individuals are registering their own .ie domain to secure, develop and build their own personal brand.
“Importantly, much of .ie’s growth is happening outside of Dublin, including the Border, Midlands and West region. There, many counties actually achieved higher overall growth in .ie registrations than the capital. As many of these .ie domains are registered by businesses, this upwards trend is also a good indicator of regional economic growth.
“The .ie brand remains distinct on the local and world stages. It is a managed space that is identifiably, authentically Irish. In an era where people’s trust in the online world is more important than ever, that reliability is crucial.”
Naomi Temple is our Marketing Specialist working within our corporate communications team.
