.CO.ZA is the commercial domain extension for South Africa, managed by the ZA Registry Consortium (ZARC). ZARC works with accredited registrars, including ISPs and domain service providers, who connect directly to the EPP (Extensible Provisioning Protocol) Domain System to facilitate registrations within the .ZA namespace.
With over 1.35 million registered .CO.ZA domain names, it’s a vital part of South Africa’s digital ecosystem.
Key Features of .CO.ZA Domains
- Annual Renewal:
All .CO.ZA domain names are registered on a year-to-year basis. To retain ownership and keep your domain active in the registry’s DNS Zone Files (allowing it to be visible on the internet), you must renew it annually. Unlike some international domain extensions, .CO.ZA domains cannot be paid for multiple years in advance. - Domain Drops:
Like .COM domains, .CO.ZA domains “drop” or delete daily when they are not renewed. This means the domain becomes available for re-registration by anyone, with the first successful registration request securing the domain. - EPP Domain System:
The EPP Domain System is the modern, efficient method for registering .CO.ZA domains. It replaced the older Legacy Domain System, which is still in limited use for a small number of domains. The Legacy System is slower and more expensive compared to EPP, making the latter the preferred choice for domain registrations today.
About iDomains.co.za
iDomains.co.za, a division of Comtech Internet Services CC, is an Accredited Registrar for ZARC. Our expertise and direct access to the EPP Domain System enable us to provide fast, reliable, and professional domain registration and management services.
Whether you need help securing a new domain, managing existing domains, or navigating the complex world of .CO.ZA domain names, our team is here to assist.
Contact us today for all your domain-related inquiries and discover why we’re a trusted partner in South Africa’s digital space.