The Registry operator for the ccTLD (Country Code Top Level Domain) for the Republic of Somalia, .so (dot SO) has announced a launch date to begin registrations. According to the SO Registry, the ccTLD was re-delegated to the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications this past April by ICANN. We first caught a glimpse of the SO Registry at the ICANN International meeting which was held in Brussels, Belgium this past June when the registry sponsored the event.

The SO Registry announced, rather quietly, that it will begin registrations in the name space on November 1st 2010. The launch model will follow the standard protocol; commencing with a “Sunrise” period — a trademark claims period in which trademark holders can claim first rights to their trademarked names. Applications during this 30 day period with multiple legitimate contenders will go to auction.

The Sunrise period and auction will be followed by a Landrush period in which names will be sold for 10 USD / year (names that have multiple applicants will go to auction). And, finally, it is anticipated that the SO registry will offer names on a first come, first served basis beginning March 1st 2011.

The launch schedule and fees laid out below:

More information about the launch can be found on the registries home page.

• State of the Domain Name Industry – Ready for New gTLDs
• IDN ccTLD Fast Track: New Strings in Line for Delegation
• IDN ccTLD Fast Track Update – August 2010
• ICANN 38 – Opening Day
• First IDN ccTLDs Go Live