As ICANN considers bids for the next dot net registry, registrars call for lower prices, better services, increased collaboration

A new independent study released today by leading market research firm Penn Schoen & Berland Associates (PSB) finds that current dot net registrars see a critical need for increased competition in the generic Top Level Domain (gTLD) registry market.
According to the survey’s results, nearly 9 out of 10 registrars agree that the Internet community is better served by not allowing one company to monopolize the gTLD registry market.

Registrars believe increased gTLD registry competition will lead to a number of important and much needed benefits, including lower prices, more innovative technical services, better registrar support, increased collaboration and innovation, and a more popular dot net. Further, the study reveals that registrars favor a change in the dot net administrator — with registrars noting that other existing domain registries are qualified and capable of administering dot net.

PSB recently conducted in-depth telephone interviews, at random, with 30 ICANN-accredited dot net registrars in North America and Europe. The release of the study comes as ICANN moves to select the next dot net egistry, which is currently up for competitive bid with five domain registries vying to take over administration of the important gTLD. ICANN is expected to make its decision at the end of March.

This independent study was conducted by PSB between December 14, 2004 and January 12, 2005, and was commissioned by DENIC, the registry operator for .de in Germany and one of the five registries competing to become the next dot net registry operator.