JuliannaVerisign – the registry provider for .COM and .NET – has released its final Domain Industry Brief for 2009.
The VeriSign quarterly reports provide a review of the state of the domain name industry, including up-to-date trends in new registrations, renewals, and growth opportunities, through a variety of statistical and analytical research.
Summary of Key Trends and Indicators
The Domain Name Industry closed 2009 with a base of more than 192 million domain name registrations across all of the Top Level Domain Names (TLDs), an increase of nearly 15 million domain name registrations since the close of 2008.
In the fourth quarter of 2009, the base of domain name registrations grew by two percent over the third quarter of 2009 and eight percent over the fourth quarter of 2008.
The base of Country Code Top Level Domain Names (ccTLDs) rose to 78.6 million domain names, a three percent increase quarter over quarter and a 10 percent increase year over year.
In terms of total registrations, .COM continues to have the highest base followed by .CN (China), .DE (Germany), .NET and .UK (United Kingdom).
.CN (the ccTLD for China) regained it’s position as the most registered ccTLDs but .UK notably was had the most growth with an 11% increase in registrations
.COM and .net grew to 96.7 million domain name registrations at the end of 2009, an increase of 7% over the last quarter in 2008.
Renewal Rates Trends
The rate of renewals at the end of 2009 was 71%
88% of the .COM and .NET domains resolve to a site, however 24% of that number represents “Onepage” sites including parked domains, under construction and brochure-ware sites.