The .aero domain just keeps on growing

The .aero domain continues to offer a unique service to the industry, providing an exclusive top level domain as a development platform for innovative Internet-based services that use the well-established aviation naming and coding conventions.

Through 2006, there was a significant increase in registrants - 2,175 at 31 December 31, compared with around 1,800 a year earlier. This was undoubtedly helped by the success of the agreement with Afilias to provide registry services, signed at the very end of 2005 and implemented through 2006.

The release of reserved domain names

At the most recent meeting of the .aero council (DAC), on 6 June, it was recommended that SITA should release currently reserved special industry and other reserved domain names for registration by eligible members of the aviation community.

Domain names will be released for registration as of 1 November 2007. This list has been reviewed by the DAC and was correct as this newsletter was published, although a final review was still being undertaken by members of the DAC.

Virtual aviation

With the success of Second Life and other virtual worlds that exist only within the Internet and the WorldWideWeb, a growing number of individuals and organizations are asking if they can register their virtual names within the .aero domain.

As the organization responsible for the integrity of the ,aero name, SITA is eager to welcome registrants from the virtual community. However, the eligibility criteria for those involved in the virtual community is the same as for those in the real community.

What's happening to the digital divide?

You may not have realized it, but 17 May was World Information Society Day, a moment set by the UN to remind the world of the vision set out at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in 2005 to build "a people-centred, inclusive and development-oriented information society".

The drivers behind the rhetoric are, of course, relevant to the global air transport community. The WSIS vision, after all, was for societies where information and communication are the main drivers of development.

Who owns and runs the Internet - the evolving role of ICANN

When the Internet Protocol was first developed, a crowd of networks evolved beginning with the US Government-funded ARPANET. Ultimately they were linked together to create what we know today as the Internet. From the outset, no-one owned the Internet.

Who owns and runs the Internet: the special role of ISOC

The Internet Society (ISOC) was launched in January 1992 to "provide assistance and support to groups and organizations involved in the use, operation, and evolution of the Internet". Initially it was envisaged as a professional society supporting development of the Internet as a global research communications infrastructure, led by key luminaries Vint Cerf, Bob Kahn and Lyman Chapin.

Not surprisingly, the purpose of ISOC has subsequently evolved as the Internet has become near-ubiquitous.