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The British government has formally relinquished sovereignty over the Chagos Islands, transferring control back to the government of Mauritius, which has campaigned for their return for over half a century. While discussions on this matter have been ongoing since 2022, the decision to return the islands has now raised important questions about the future of the Chagos Islands’ domain, specifically the .io domain.
Many businesses are now worried about the future of their websites that are housed on the .io domain, concerned on whether the survivability of this domain. While there is precedent for both large and small domains to remain unchanged in order to minimize global disruption to the internet, the .io domain is unique. It is predominantly used by private financial institutions, and its future could set an important precedent. Whilst the island themselves may not be directly impacted, as the population is miniscule, the question arises: should the .io domain remain purely for these businesses, especially considering how revenue it generates for these islands?
In this blog, we will explore the most likely future of the .io domain, offer recommendations as an SEO migration agency on how businesses can future-proof their sites, and outline potential strategies for managing any changes that may arise.
.IO Domain Fate’s & Possible Avenues for Mauritius to Take
With the United Kingdom handing over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, the future of the .io domain — previously tied to the British Indian Ocean Territory — is uncertain. The British Indian Ocean Territory will no longer exist, and while no official action has been confirmed, there are several possibilities for the .io domain: it could be retired, transitioned to a local domain such as .mu, or preserved in a manner similar to how the .uk domain was handled post-Brexit, or how the .su domain persisted after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
However, there is little immediate cause for concern. Currently, over 270,000 websites are registered under the .io domain, a significant number that offers Mauritius the opportunity to tax the registry and maintain the domain, bringing in substantial revenue to their government. The .io extension is particularly popular among financial institutions and startups due to its association with “input/output,” making it a desirable choice to keep and foster this business. The high usage of this domain suggests that a decision on its future will need to be made swiftly to prevent disruption and to ensure businesses continue to register and use the .io domain, so it is best to keep a Google alert on your phone or to keep your eye on this sphere for news.
Given the technical and financial industries that rely on .io, it’s likely that an industry-wide effort will be made to preserve the domain, with lobbying and initiatives to ensure its continued operation. If Mauritius decides to cancel the domain, ICANN (the global body that oversees domain management) would likely implement a five-year phasing-out plan to transition businesses to alternative domains, such as .com.
The situation, while not as large-scale as the UK’s management of the .uk domain, still carries significant weight. It could set a precedent for similar cases in the future, particularly as geopolitical landscapes continue to shift. Thus, understanding how country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) are handled in this evolving environment is crucial. There are three possible outcomes:
- Retirement: ICANN could shut down the .io domain and phase out its usage over five years, transitioning businesses to other domains, such as .com. This outcome is unlikely due to the potential disruption it would cause to the internet at large, as well as the significant revenue Mauritius would lose.
- Re-delegation: Mauritius could take over management of the .io domain, implementing new rules for domain operators, such as higher renewal fees and changing the domain name to .mu. This approach has been seen with other ccTLDs and seems like a likely outcome.
- Preservation: Given the wide usage of the .io domain, it is most probable that ICANN will preserve it. This would likely involve Mauritius negotiating with ICANN and Identity Digital to take a larger share of the revenue generated from the Preserving the .io domain would maintain stability in the global internet infrastructure and avoid unnecessary disruptions for the many businesses that rely on it.
As industry professionals, we believe there is no immediate cause for concern regarding the .io domain. There are historical precedents, such as the .yu domain tied to Yugoslavia, where smaller domains were successfully managed even after geopolitical changes. Given the significant funds tied to the .io domain and its relatively low maintenance costs, it is unlikely to be shut down. However, it’s always prudent to have a backup plan. Additionally, there are domains, such as .com, that may better serve your SEO and international presence.
In conclusion, while the geopolitical changes surrounding the .io domain are worth monitoring, there is no immediate risk. It’s likely that the domain will either be preserved or re-delegated, and businesses currently using .io should continue their operations without major concern — though considering alternatives like .com for SEO purposes could still be a worthwhile strategy.
POLARIS’ Recommendations
The .io domain is widely favoured by tech companies, particularly in the app and software sectors, but it is not as universally recognized as .com or .uk domains. This lack of recognition can negatively impact your SEO performance and brand visibility. Given the potential for the .io domain to either be rebranded to a new ccTLD (such as .mu or .ci), which could come with higher maintenance and renewal costs, or continue as .io under new governance, it’s a prudent strategy to consider a backup domain in case these changes are not aligned with your needs.
We recommend securing a .com or .uk domain as a precautionary measure. This will help mitigate the risks associated with a potential shutdown or rebranding of the .io domain. As your business may be heavily reliant on the .io extension, taking proactive steps to secure an alternative domain is a wise move to avoid being caught off guard and having to scramble for a solution later.
Domain Comparative Table
Conclusion
We believe it’s unlikely that the .io domain will be discontinued, given the significant investment and revenue generated by it. This creates a compelling case for Mauritius to retain the domain while negotiating a larger share of the revenue. Additionally, ICANN has a strong incentive to maintain the stability of the internet, which further supports the likelihood of .io continuing. However, due to the potential uncertainty surrounding ICANN’s long-term plans, we recommend considering a backup strategy for SEO purposes.
In this case, we suggest migrating to a .com domain. A .com offers superior global visibility, particularly in the US and international markets, and provides a stronger SEO advantage. With its broad recognition, a .com domain could improve keyword rankings and reduce operational costs compared to any potential changes or higher renewal fees that could come with the .io domain.
If you would like to investigate a migration to a .com domain, please click here for more information on migrations.
If you would like to discuss this further, please click here to start the conversation about evaluating potential alternative domains for your business and the process/impacts of this migration can have on your site.
