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    • .bb

    Country-code top-level domains

    Overview

    • .bb is the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Barbados.
    • It is administered by the Telecommunications Unit of the Ministry of Innovations, Science and Smart Technologies (Government of Barbados).
    • Introduced on 3 September 1991, registrations are permitted at the second level and at third level beneath various second-level labels.
    • IDN support: No. DNSSEC: reported as "DNSSEC Ready" by the Telecommunications Unit (November 2018).

    History

    • 1991-09: .bb was delegated to the University of Puerto Rico when created.
    • 1996: Management was re-delegated to Cable & Wireless (Caribbean).
    • 2001-10-16: The Government of Barbados and Cable & Wireless signed a Memorandum of Understanding for interim administration.
    • 2007-11: Administration and control of .bb was re-delegated to the Government of Barbados (Telecommunications Unit).

    Usage and Audience

    • Intended use: entities connected with Barbados; actual use: some usage within Barbados.
    • The namespace is operated with a semi-restricted policy aimed at maintaining local connections to Barbados.
    • Common second-level labels and their typical uses:
      • .co.bb — general/commercial use
      • .com.bb — commercial entities
      • .net.bb — network providers
      • .org.bb — not-for-profit organisations
      • .gov.bb — Barbadian government organisations
      • .edu.bb — Barbadian educational organisations
      • .info.bb, .store.bb, .tv.bb, .biz.bb — general use

    Registration Rules

    • Local presence is required to register a .bb domain.
    • Applicants must complete and submit the Domain Name Registration Application Form (TU052) to the Telecommunications Unit.
    • Required documentation may include business registration or a certificate from a relevant ministry (as applicable).
    • Fee and renewal: domain registrations (including second- and third-level domains) are renewed annually at a fee of BBD $120.
    • Name rules:
      • One-character domains are not allowed.
      • Two-character domains may be allowed only with special permission from the Chief Telecommunications Officer.
    • Internationalized domain names (IDNs) are not supported.

    SEO and Brand Impact

    • The registry's semi-restricted policy and the requirement for local presence help keep .bb domains tied to Barbados, making them appropriate for local or national branding.
    • The annual registration fee (BBD $120) is noted as significantly higher than many other TLDs, a factor that can affect adoption and commercial use.
    • The reported DNSSEC readiness enhances DNS security for .bb domains, which can positively affect trust and operational security.

    Operator

    Ministry of Innovation, Science and Smart Technology

    Whois

    % IANA WHOIS server
% for more information on IANA, visit http://www.iana.org
% This query returned 1 object

domain:       BB

organisation: Ministry of Innovation, Science and Smart Technology
address:      Telecommunications Unit
address:      Government of Barbados
address:      Level 4
address:      Baobab Tower
address:      Warrens St. Michael
address:      Barbados

contact:      administrative
name:         Clifford A Bostic
organisation: Ministry of Innovation, Science and Smart Technology
address:      Government of Barbados
address:      Level 4
address:      Baobab Tower
address:      Warrens St. Michael
address:      Barbados
phone:        +1 246 535 2573
e-mail:       clifford.bostic@barbados.gov.bb

contact:      technical
name:         George Foster
organisation: Ministry of Innovation, Science and Smart Technology
address:      Government of Barbados
address:      Level 4
address:      Baobab Tower
address:      Warrens St. Michael
address:      Barbados
phone:        +1 246 535 2571
e-mail:       george.foster@barbados.gov.bb

nserver:      NS1.NIC.BB 2400:cb00:2049:1:0:0:a29f:1835 64.68.192.10
nserver:      NS2.NIC.BB 198.41.222.254 2400:cb00:2049:1:0:0:c629:defe
nserver:      NS3.NIC.BB 2620:49:3:0:0:0:0:10 64.68.196.10
nserver:      NS4.NIC.BB 2620:49:4:0:0:0:0:10 64.68.197.10
nserver:      NS5.NIC.BB 200.50.92.195

whois:        

status:       ACTIVE
remarks:      Registration information:
remarks:      http://www.whois.telecoms.gov.bb/

created:      1991-09-03
changed:      2022-03-08
source:       IANA

    Registrars