In an attempt to explore all 1500+ TLDs, today we are joined by punto IT! Italy’s ccTLD .IT. Both our Domain Availability API and Whois API offer bulk checks, and in this article we are going to show an example.
The .it country code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD) stands as a digital counterpart of Italy, contributing a rich piece of Italian heritage to the puzzle of the internet. Managed by the Istituto di Informatica e Telematica (IIT) of the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), the .it ccTLD serves as a critical infrastructure enabling Italian businesses, cultural institutions, and individuals to mark their presence on the global stage of the World Wide Web.
Historical Context and Evolution
Introduced in December 1987, the .it ccTLD has witnessed the evolution of the internet from a niche research tool into a cornerstone of global communication, commerce, and culture. Over the decades, .it has become synonymous with Italian innovation, design, and entrepreneurship, providing a secure and recognizable platform for digital identities rooted in Italy’s storied legacy.
The graph above shows that .IT ccTLD is one of the largest top 10 ccTLDs in the World. This shows the tremendous adoption of Italians for their native domain extension.
Governance and Regulation of .IT ccTLD
The registry for .it domains, maintained by the IIT under the CNR, embodies a commitment to robust, efficient, and secure domain management practices. Italian ccTLD governance emphasizes transparency, security, and adherence to national and European Union regulations, including privacy laws such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
A ccTLD (Country Code Top-Level Domain) is a two-letter domain extension designated specifically for a country or territory, based on the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country codes. These domain extensions are part of the global Domain Name System (DNS) and are used to signify websites’ geographic affiliations, providing a means for internet users to identify the country of origin or target audience of a website.
Examples of ccTLDs include:
The .IT WHOIS Protocol and Privacy
In the world of .it domains, the WHOIS protocol offers a means to query domain registration information, ensuring a layer of transparency in the digital domain landscape. However, in compliance with GDPR, personal data associated with domain registrations is protected, balancing the public’s right to information with individuals’ privacy rights.
The JSON output provided is a WHOIS record for the domain name “italia.it”. Here’s what each part of the JSON output indicates:
- status: “0” indicates a successful query with no errors.
- whois_server: The WHOIS server that provided the data is “whois.nic.it”, which is the registry for .it domain names, Italy’s country-code top-level domain (ccTLD).
- limit_hit: Indicates that the query did not exceed the server’s rate limit.
- registered: The domain is currently registered.
- premium: The domain is not marked as a premium domain, which often refers to high-value domain names sold at a higher price.
- domain_status: The “ok” status typically means there are no issues with the domain, and it is not on hold or in a state of dispute.
- date_created: The domain was initially registered on June 3, 2004.
- date_updated: The record was last updated on August 5, 2023.
- date_expires: The domain registration is set to expire on July 20, 2024.
Under contacts, due to General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) policies, personal details related to the registrant, admin, and technical contacts are disabled and thus not displayed.
- registrant: The organization listed is “Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri”, which is the Presidency of the Council of Ministers in Italy, suggesting that this domain is owned by a high-level Italian government body.
- admin: The administrative contact is associated with “Sogei S.p.A.”, an Italian company known for providing IT services to public administrations.
- tech: The technical contact is associated with “Wind Tre S.p.A.”, a notable telecommunications company in Italy.
- registrar: The entity that registered the domain is “ITnet s.r.l.”, indicated by the registrar name “ITNET-REG”.
The nameservers listed are:
- ammi2.finanze.it
- ammi3.finanze.it
- ammi4.finanze.it
- ammi5.finanze.it
- ammi6.finanze.it
- ammi7.finanze.it
These are nameservers presumably managed by the Italian Ministry of Finance, as “finanze” translates to finance in Italian.
- disclaimer: A standard legal disclaimer noting that the data shown is a subset of the data in the registry’s database, with a link to the official NIC.it WHOIS lookup page.
- emails: There are no email addresses listed, likely due to GDPR.
- whois_raw: Raw WHOIS data is not provided, again due to GDPR.
- whois_name: The organization maintaining the registry for the .it ccTLD is “Nic”.
- status_desc: The processing of the WHOIS query was successful.
- domain_name: The domain in question is “italia.it”.
- _cached: Indicates that the response was not served from a cache, suggesting the data is current.
- requests_available: There are 29 requests available, possibly indicating the number of WHOIS queries remaining before hitting a limit.
This .IT WHOIS record provides a clear example of how GDPR has impacted the availability of personal data in domain registration information, with most of the contact details being redacted for privacy reasons.
Impact on Italian Digital Identity
The .it ccTLD provides a foundational platform for Italy’s digital economy, facilitating online ventures from e-commerce giants to boutique artisanal shops. Its role in digital innovation is pivotal, enabling Italian entities to seamlessly connect with global markets while maintaining a distinct Italian digital identity.
Challenges and Opportunities with .IT whois
As digital landscapes evolve, the .it whois has utility from cybersecurity to the need for continuous technological upgrades in domain name arena. Yet, these challenges present opportunities for innovation, strengthening the infrastructure, and expanding the reach of Italian digital content.
The Future of .it
Looking forward, the .it domain is poised to play a key role in Italy’s digital transformation, embracing new technologies such as blockchain and artificial intelligence. As Italy continues to carve out its space in the digital economy, the .it ccTLD stands as a testament to the country’s adaptability, creativity, and enduring cultural influence.
Italy’s .it ccTLD is more than a domain; it is a gateway to the Italian digital landscape, offering a blend of tradition and innovation. As Italy navigates the complexities of the digital age, the .it domain continues to provide a stable, secure, and culturally resonant platform for Italian entities to thrive on the global stage.
