The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) is inviting companies to become accredited registrars for providing web hosting services using local domain names '.om' and '.' (Oman).
Till now, Omantel was the sole entity providing this service.On the inauguration of the first phase of the domain management project, Dr Hamad bin Salem Rawahi, chief executive of the TRA stated that the use of Arabic language in website addressing will not only lead to rise in number of Internet users, it would also eliminate the language barrier.
"Arabic-language users will now be able to have a seamless experience completely in Arabic from the moment they turn on their computers through to the point where they access required information on the Internet." At a press conference held on Monday, Hilal O al Siyabi, manager, media and consumer affairs, TRA, explained the need for promotion of local domain names and the edge it provides to businesses. "Not only it gives customers confidence that it is an authentic Omani website, it highlights the organisation's local presence. It will help break barriers encountered by Internet users that only speak Arabic and interlink new segment of users," Siyabi said.
Timothy Roy, senior specialist, technical planning, TRA, said that using .com or .net is no more unique. "Anyone can get a .com or .net domain name, but only an Omani establishment can have domains '.om' or '..' The idea is to involve local companies to be providers of these local domain names and promote their use, which not only adds to national pride but also gives any company a unique identity within the country or abroad." He added that currently about 1,489 entities are registered with the '.om' domain name.
Siyabi said that the TRA will begin receiving applications from companies to become accredited registrars from Tuesday.
© Muscat Daily 2012
