.int
Encyclopedia
The domain name int is a sponsored top-level domain
(sTLD) in the Domain Name System
of the Internet
. Its name is derived from the word international, characterizing its use for world-wide purposes.
According to current Internet Assigned Numbers Authority
(IANA) policy, the int sTLD is reserved for international treaty-based organizations, United Nations
agencies and organizations or entities having Observer status at the UN. The first use of this generic top-level domain was by NATO, which had been assigned the nato
TLD
.
int is considered to have the strictest application policies of all TLDs, as it implies that the holder is a subject of international law
. For this reason, the application procedure requires the applicant to provide evidence that it is indeed treaty-based by providing a United Nations treaty
registration number and that it has independent legal status.
Hence, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
(POPS) saw its initial application for a int domain name rejected on the grounds that the convention did not explicitly create an entity subject of international law. However, POPS appealed to the IANA Reconsideration Committee and obtained its domain (pops.int) on the grounds that other conventions lacking such specific language had nevertheless obtained a registration.
Additionally, int was historically also used for Internet infrastructure databases. The name space arpa
had been slated to be moved into int, but in 2000 the Internet Architecture Board
recommended that no new infrastructure databases should be added to int and that arpa retain its function. The only remaining technical role of int was for reverse translation of IPv6 address
es under the ip6.int zone. This zone was officially removed on 6 June 2006 in favor of ip6.arpa, also administered by IANA.
The eu.int subdomain was used by the European Union
-affiliated institutions. However, the aforementioned institutions' domain names switched to the eu
TLD on May 9, 2006 (Europe Day
). All previous eu.int addresses continued to be accessible for a transitional period of at least one year.
's Remote Printing Service (remote email to fax service at tpc.int)
Sponsored top-level domain
A sponsored top-level domain is one of the categories of top-level domains maintained by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority for use in the Domain Name System of the Internet....
(sTLD) in the Domain Name System
Domain name system
The Domain Name System is a hierarchical distributed naming system for computers, services, or any resource connected to the Internet or a private network. It associates various information with domain names assigned to each of the participating entities...
of the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
. Its name is derived from the word international, characterizing its use for world-wide purposes.
According to current Internet Assigned Numbers Authority
Internet Assigned Numbers Authority
The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority is the entity that oversees global IP address allocation, autonomous system number allocation, root zone management in the Domain Name System , media types, and other Internet Protocol-related symbols and numbers...
(IANA) policy, the int sTLD is reserved for international treaty-based organizations, United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
agencies and organizations or entities having Observer status at the UN. The first use of this generic top-level domain was by NATO, which had been assigned the nato
.nato
The domain name nato was a top-level domain in the Domain Name System of the Internet. The domain was added in the late 1980s by InterNIC for the use of NATO, based on the representation that none of the then existing top-level domains adequately reflected their status as an international...
TLD
Top-level domain
A top-level domain is one of the domains at the highest level in the hierarchical Domain Name System of the Internet. The top-level domain names are installed in the root zone of the name space. For all domains in lower levels, it is the last part of the domain name, that is, the last label of a...
.
int is considered to have the strictest application policies of all TLDs, as it implies that the holder is a subject of international law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
. For this reason, the application procedure requires the applicant to provide evidence that it is indeed treaty-based by providing a United Nations treaty
Treaty
A treaty is an express agreement under international law entered into by actors in international law, namely sovereign states and international organizations. A treaty may also be known as an agreement, protocol, covenant, convention or exchange of letters, among other terms...
registration number and that it has independent legal status.
Hence, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is an international environmental treaty, signed in 2001 and effective from May 2004, that aims to eliminate or restrict the production and use of persistent organic pollutants .- History :...
(POPS) saw its initial application for a int domain name rejected on the grounds that the convention did not explicitly create an entity subject of international law. However, POPS appealed to the IANA Reconsideration Committee and obtained its domain (pops.int) on the grounds that other conventions lacking such specific language had nevertheless obtained a registration.
Additionally, int was historically also used for Internet infrastructure databases. The name space arpa
.arpa
The domain name arpa is a top-level domain in the Domain Name System of the Internet. It is used exclusively for technical infrastructure purposes...
had been slated to be moved into int, but in 2000 the Internet Architecture Board
Internet Architecture Board
The Internet Architecture Board is the committee charged with oversight of the technical and engineering development of the Internet by the Internet Society ....
recommended that no new infrastructure databases should be added to int and that arpa retain its function. The only remaining technical role of int was for reverse translation of IPv6 address
IPv6 address
An Internet Protocol Version 6 address is a numerical label that is used to identify a network interface of a computer or other network node participating in an IPv6-enabled computer network....
es under the ip6.int zone. This zone was officially removed on 6 June 2006 in favor of ip6.arpa, also administered by IANA.
Delegations
A dedicated article offers comprehensive list of these organizations and indicates which ones are actually intergovernmental treaty-based organizations, UN agencies or UN observers, and which ones obtained their int delegation prior to the establishment of these very strict guidelines.The eu.int subdomain was used by the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
-affiliated institutions. However, the aforementioned institutions' domain names switched to the eu
.eu
.eu is the country code top-level domain for the European Union . Launched 7 December 2005, the domain is available for organisations in and residents of EU member states. The TLD is administered by EURid, a consortium consisting of the national ccTLD registry operators of Belgium, Sweden, Italy...
TLD on May 9, 2006 (Europe Day
Europe Day
In Europe, Europe Day is an annual celebration of peace and unity in Europe. There are two separate designations of Europe Day: 5 May for the Council of Europe, and 9 May for the European Union...
). All previous eu.int addresses continued to be accessible for a transitional period of at least one year.
Grandfathered delegations
Several int domains were granted prior to the application of the strict guidelines described above. The Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) is perhaps the most striking example of the loose guidelines applied in the early 1990s. In spite of the potentially confusing impression given by a int domain, IANA has decided not to withdraw the existing assignment from YMCA (ymca.int) and other organizations who do not meet the current criteria. A notable example is The Phone CompanyThe Phone Company
The Phone Company is a volunteer network providing a free email-to-fax service.It is one of the few grandfathered users of the '.int' domain. It takes its name from the similarly named organisation in the film The President's Analyst....
's Remote Printing Service (remote email to fax service at tpc.int)