2026 年新通用顶级域申请将启：中国企业如何破解全球化中的 “域名掣肘”？

Core Insights - ICANN has officially confirmed that the new round of applications for new generic top-level domains (gTLD) will open in April 2026, providing new opportunities for Chinese enterprises in the internet infrastructure sector [1] Group 1: Domain Industry Development - The total number of registered domains in China has exceeded 30 million, with over 20 million ".CN" domains, ranking first globally among country code top-level domains [2] - The perception of domains has evolved from merely being "network entry points" to being recognized as core components of global digital branding, reflecting an awakening of digital sovereignty awareness among enterprises [2][4] - Increased network security risks have led enterprises to prioritize domain management as a critical aspect of their overall security framework [2] Group 2: Policy Support - National policies are providing clear guidance for the development of the domain industry, with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology revising the "Internet Domain Name Management Measures" and releasing standards for "Chinese Domain Name Technical Requirements" [3] Group 3: Comparative Analysis - In the first round of gTLD applications in 2012, Chinese enterprises applied for only 41 domains, accounting for less than 4% of the global total, while major foreign companies like Google and Amazon applied for 46 and 55 domains respectively [4] - The gap in understanding the strategic value of top-level domains has been identified as a core reason for this disparity, with many Chinese enterprises previously believing that having a ".com" domain was sufficient [4] Group 4: Strategic Importance of gTLDs - Top-level domains are considered scarce and exclusive strategic resources, essential for supporting next-generation internet technologies like 5G and AI [5] - Unified top-level domains can enhance brand identity and user trust, particularly for enterprises expanding globally [5][6] - The management of top-level domains is crucial for maintaining cybersecurity and ensuring service stability in cross-border operations [6] Group 5: Future Outlook - The strategic value of top-level domains is increasingly recognized as Chinese enterprises accelerate their global expansion [6] - Top-level domains serve as a bridge between digital and physical business operations, enhancing international brand competitiveness [7] - The China Internet Association is actively supporting enterprises in navigating the upcoming application window and advocating for fair competition in global domain governance [7]