6.999 Domains in Macedonian Internet Space

МакедонскиEnglish

Monday, 15 May 2006 12:40

There are 6.999 active Macedonian internet domains, shows the analysis of the secondary and tertiary sub domains under the “.mk” domain registered via the Macedonian Academic and Analysis network (MARNet) Analysis of Macedonian domains conducted by USAID and Metamorphosis Foundation in the first part of 2006 shows that about 1.395 (20%) of active domains are owned by the five biggest internet service providers (ISPs) in Macedonia.

MakTel, ISP of Makedonski Telekomunikacii owns 577 domains, followed by MOL with 527 domains, On.net with 155 domains, Ultranet with 122 domains and Sonet with 14 domains.

Analysis shows that there are even 5.408 secondary level domains registered under the com.mk, showing that business sector gives the biggest contribution to the increase of online activities in Macedonia.

Filip Stojanovski, project coordinator in Metamorphosis Foundation said that the analysis shown apparent increase of registered secondary and tertiary level domains. He added that it is clear that the business sector is driving force of online activities in Macedonia.

“The analysis shows that the awareness about the electronic communication usability and the advantages that internet and ICT offer is continuously increasing in Macedonia. The positive fact is that businessmen realised that online activities can contribute to better communication and presentation of Macedonian companies to potential domestic and international partners. Yet, there is great space for investment in this sector since the facts show that the potential offered by modern electronic communication is still not been used in Macedonia,” said Stojanovski.

The analysis of Macedonian secondary and tertiary level domains shows that Macedonia gained access to the internet in 1995 for the first time when MARNet established the first internet connection. Commercial access was soon offered via satellite by a local private company and the first web server was set up by the Open Society Institute - Macedonia.

“Ever since then an increasing number of Macedonian citizens have expanded their daily activities online. Internet usage has especially increased during recent years thanks to de-monopolization of access and introduction of alternative access methods,” is stated in the analysis.

Analysis of Macedonian secondary and tertiary level domains also shows that state institutions have exclusive right not to obey the hierarchy imposed by MARNet. MARNet is the only institution in Macedonia authorised to register secondary and tertiary level domains under the “.mk” domain. MARNet regulations provide hierarchical domain addressing by allowing users to register only tertiary level domains, i.e. “companyname.com.mk”, “organisationname.org.mk”, etc. but when it comes to the state institutions, the MARNet’s hierarchy is not followed at all. This conclusion is illustrated by the web sites of the mayor of the City of Skopje (skopje.mk), the State electoral commission (dik.mk), the Government, the Parliament, etc. The “.gov” indicating state-owned internet address is omitted.

The analysis conducted by USAID and Metamorphosis Foundation shows that there are less governmental domains and civic domains compared to the business domains. However, the analysts noted that in the past years there is evident increase in the domains registered by the Government. They added that that is expected because Macedonia is preparing for e-governance and even further for e-society.

Vladimir Nikoloski
Source: Vreme