IE Domain Registry t/a .IE

CHART 3: HIGHLIGHTS – .IE DOMAINS BY COUNTY Mayo Mayo recorded a 41.5% increase YoY in 2020, the largest increase of the Western counties. Clare Clare recorded the second largest YoY increase in new .ie registrations (70.5%). It recorded a YoY increase in registrations every month in 2020. Limerick Limerick recorded a YoY increase in registrations in every month of 2020. Registrations were up almost 30% YoY. Wicklow Wicklow recorded a 34.5% increase YoY in 2020, which may reflect the movement of businesses locating in satellite towns outside of big urban centres. Tipperary Tipperary recoded a YoY increase in registrations in every month of 2020. Registrations were up 45.3% YoY. Cork Cork recorded the second highest number of new .ie domain registrations in 2020 (5,295), a 30.6% increase year-on-year. International review There are more than 240 country code top-level domain extensions (ccTLDs) worldwide, including .ie. Compared to twenty-three other European countries, Ireland ranks 18th, with 63 country code domains per 1,000 of population. Using this metric, Ireland ranks ahead of or is comparable to, European countries with larger populations, including France (56 .fr domains per 1,000), Spain (42 .es domains per 1,000), Russia (35 .ru domains per 1,000). However, Ireland also ranks behind several European countries with smaller or similar populations, including Denmark (233 .dk domains) and Norway (154 .no domains). Our nearest neighbours in the UK have 165 .uk domains per 1,000 of population. Commentators attribute this to Ireland’s slow start in building out early internet infrastructure, compared to European neighbours, which had many competing internet service providers and cable operators. Business and Market Review IE Domain Registry CLG t/a .IE / Annual Report & Review 2020 31