Latin script loses hold on internet

 

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By Reuters

Posted on 30 Oct 2009 at 09:20

ICANN has agreed to allow the use of non-Latin scripts to be used as web addresses, bringing the biggest overhaul of the net since its inception, according to experts.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), which approved the change at a meeting in Seoul, claims the move could lead to a dramatic rise in the number of Internet users.

It's estimated that over half of the 1.6 billion people who use the internet speak languages with non-Latin scripts

"This is only the first step, but it is an incredibly big one and an historic move toward the internationalisation of the internet," says ICANN's chief executive Rod Beckstrom.

This is only the first step, but it is an incredibly big one and an historic move toward the internationalisation of the internet

"We have just made the Internet much more accessible to millions of people in regions such as Asia, the Middle East and Russia."

The program will be rolled out in stages, starting 16 November. Initially, it will allow internationalised domain names (IDNs) using scripts such as Chinese, Korean or Arabic for the country code designators at the end of an address name.

Eventually, the use of IDNs will be expanded to all types of internet address names.

ICANN was set up in 1998 and operated under the aegis of the US Commerce Department. It decides what names can be added to the Internet's top level domains (TLDs) such as .com as well as country designations.

Last month, the US government agreed to changes that in effect meant ICANN would no longer report solely to the US.