[AfrICANN-discuss] ICANN Africa Event in Addis 5-8 March 2013

[Dr Eberhard W Lisse]

You are quite wrong. 

Africa has more than 50 Registries, almost all for them mismanaged and most barely functional.

Expertise should flow the Registers. We see in .NA that our local Registrars acquire expertise because they need it to do business with us. 

And then when others note that there is a functioning Register with well established, published and enforced policies, corporate governance and technical competence they startup too. 

This competition on the Registrar level requires functioning Registers and this is where Africa fails.

Since ccTLDs can make their own rules, the requirements are not as stringent as for ICANN accredited Registrars, so this is where this can start.

Why? Because it is technically not that difficult, when you have a well functioning Register, such as CoCCATools/Pamoja or FRED.

ICANN accredited Registrars per definition will register in the gTLD space, so this will not do anything other than to move the registrations to the .COMs. 

Which I personally don't have any problem with as a ccTLD Register, but it's not going to change things for the better here.

It will NOT lead to greater uptake of the African ccTLDs, because only very view can even do EPP or have any credible payment and accounting setup.

The barrier to entry as a ICANN Registrar is high, because of the stringent requirements ICANN has laid down so as to protect the registrants. This can not be waived for developing Registrars, though there is a case for assisting the developing Registers, such as .AFRICA to be able (to afford) to comply.

I like the word "hand wringing session" though this is not what Pierre has in mind. But the "travelers" do of course.

el

Sent from Dr Lisse's iPad mini

On Feb 2, 2013, at 16:15, McTim <dogwallah at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi Ben,
> 
> I am happy to have the chance to engage constructively in this thread.
> 
> On Sat, Feb 2, 2013 at 9:04 AM, Ben Fuller <abutiben at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Can someone explain the need for ICANN approved registrars in Africa?
> 
> 
> If there were more registrars on the continent, there would be greater
> technical capability, more DNS clue, greater uptake of local/regional
> TLDs, more business (read profit), which leads to more registrars,
> which leads to more business.  It's "a rising tide lifts all boats"
> kind of virtuous circle.
> 
> 
>> What does this do for the continent? With hundreds of private companies across the globe that have become ICANN approved registrars, what is stopping African companies from doing the same?
> 
> Lack of awareness perhaps?  Perhaps it is percieved as too hard to
> become accredited when one can just become a reseller??   I think this
> is one question you could have answered by folk at the event!
> 
> There are enough African companies with the capital to do so. What
> will a hand wringing session in Ethiopia do?  Don't tell me you want a
> donor Programme.
> 
> 
> I don't think a donor scheme is part of the plan.
> 
> I hope there won't be much hand-wringing either.
> 
> 
> -- 
> Cheers,
> 
> McTim
> "A name indicates what we seek. An address indicates where it is. A
> route indicates how we get there."  Jon Postel
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