THE Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) has urged Tanzanians to register and use the country's top-level domain name, thus contributing to the country’s economic development.

Dr Jabiri Bakari, TCRA director general (pictured) made the call yesterday in Dar es Salaam when speaking to journalists on the matter.

He said: “The dot tz domain name and its users contributed to branding Tanzania online. It was similar to the +255 prefix in telecommunications.”

He added: “Disputes related to a domain name can also be handled and resolved within the country. Non-Tanzania domain names, such as 'dot com' are managed elsewhere.”

Dr Bakari explained that dot tz domain owners enjoyed seamless use and a friendlier regulatory approach than users of foreign domain names. Some of these attracted stiffer sanctions, including fines of more than 100 dollars and suspensions. 

Dr Bakari described the registration of dot tz domain names as satisfactory.  There are over 30,000 domain names registered through more than 70 accredited registrars.

Individuals and organizations can register a domain name through the accredited registrars published at https://karibu.tz/domains/registrars/ .

Besides the corporate and individual benefits of domain names, their use is mandatory for Tanzanian public or business entities. It is required by section 10-(1) of the Electronic and Postal Communication Numbering and Addressing Regulations.

“Any company, government and non-governmental organizations, society, partnership or community registered and conducting business in Tanzania shall register and use domain names with dot-tz country code top-level domain (ccTLD),” the section states.

In cyberspace, where communication uses computer networks that ensure a country’s presence on the internet, countries are identified by their country code top-level domains (ccTLD). 

These are generally used or reserved for a country, sovereign state, or dependent territory identified with a country code. Examples of ccTLDs are dot eg for Egypt, dot in (India), dot us (USA), dot uk (UK) and dot tz (Tanzania).

Domain names are unique identifiers of internet resources such as websites registered at the country or global levels.

Computers connected to the internet have unique numerical addresses to deliver electronic information to the right place. The domain name system translates these addresses into more user-friendly names. 

The resulting domain names are easier to remember, and help people to navigate the internet for information.

Domain names identify particular web pages and email addresses that enable people to send and receive electronic messages.

The benefits of owning a Tanzania domain name include clients' easy access, demonstration of professionalism, branding opportunities and user trust and confidence in a business or service. This enables an organization to improve its credibility and build a solid client base.

Local domains instil a sense of satisfaction and national pride in clients.  They feel they are supporting local organizations. 

Experts have shown that users easily identify with a local name or brand. For example, users feel more confident when communicating on emails with dot Tanzania extensions than those with global domains such as dot com. Client email messages sent on country domains are rarely rejected.

Using a local domain or email address also gives clients a more professional look.

They show that owners have made great efforts to register their domains locally instead of adopting global domains.

Local domains also facilitate searchers for businesses and services.  When a client searches for information, the algorithms of search engines such as Google locate addresses and direct users to relevant websites.

Domain names facilitate marketing as it increases search engine optimization. Local domains are more focused and, hence, are given priority in searches. When a user clicks a country domain, the search is narrowed.

For example, if someone clicks Tanzania in their search for any content, the engine will prioritize Tanzania and the domain with the dot Tanzania extension will be ranked on top.

An organization with a global domain, such as 'dot com', will be subject to wider searches since it competes with more websites for the same keywords clicked by a user. TCRA said that being ranked higher builds online credibility and promotes an organization.