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The Astonishing Growth of .br Domains: How Brazil Rises on the Web
Internet development in Brazil has undergone significant changes over the past few decades, one of the most notable being the rapid growth of the .br domain name. Since its establishment in 1989, this has gradually become an important symbol of Brazil's online identity and has led countless individuals and businesses into the digital world.
According to the latest statistics, as of September 2024, a total of more than 5.38 million .br domain names have been registered, making it one of the sixth most popular country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) in the world.
Initially, the .br domain was managed by the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee (CGI.br) until 2005, when it was handed over to the Brazilian Internet Information Center (NIC.br). From the beginning, the registrants of this domain name were limited to academic institutions and scientific researchers, but with the popularization of technology and the development of the Internet, more and more companies and individuals began to enter this field.
With Brazil's official access to the Internet in 1991, the use of .br domain names began to rise sharply. In 1995, the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee was officially established to coordinate the allocation of Internet addresses and the registration of .br domain names. This change laid the foundation for future network development.
By the end of 1996, 851 domain names had been registered, and this number increased rapidly as a large number of businesses and Internet providers entered the market.
In 1997, Brazil's domain name registration system was automated and developed using open source software, marking an important milestone in the development of the Brazilian Internet. With the continuous advancement of technology, more new entrants have joined in, driving the prosperity of this field.
But the development along the way was not all smooth sailing. In 2017, DNS records associated with Brazilian banks were hacked, an incident that highlighted the importance of online security. Although NIC.br administrators denied that they had been "hacked," the incident has brought security concerns to a new level.
As of 2024, .br has become the most widely used Portuguese top-level domain in the world, with a significant market position.
Currently, registering a .br domain name requires meeting certain conditions, including being a company or individual legally established in Brazil and having a Brazilian contact. This ensures that Brazil's Internet ecosystem remains localized and highly connected.
In addition, since 2005, .br domain name registration has also accepted Portuguese characters, which undoubtedly makes more Brazilian users feel familiar and promotes the localization of the Internet. For users who need special characters, these new rules are a big benefit.
As of 2024, there are 1,207 domain names registered directly under .br, showing the importance that higher education institutions attach to this platform.
As the importance of the Internet becomes increasingly prominent, more Brazilian citizens and businesses are beginning to pay attention to their online image and digital footprint. Especially with the rise of social media today, a simple and easy-to-remember domain name can undoubtedly enhance the visibility and influence of a company.
According to statistics, as of September 2024, more than 30% of registered domain names are using DNSSEC, which is undoubtedly an important performance of Brazil in enhancing network security and trust. With the development of the digital economy, the security of online transactions has become one of the most concerned issues for enterprises and users.
Looking ahead, as technology continues to develop and more companies enter the online space, Brazil's online ecosystem is expected to continue to grow, and the .br domain name will become an increasingly important digital asset. How Brazil can further enhance its position in the global digital economy will test the joint efforts of its government, businesses and people.
As countless businesses and individuals emerge in this digital age, how do you think Brazil's Internet development will affect the future global digital economy?
