.AC Domain Names
Registering a .AC domain name can help you organize your life so that you are 'always connected'.
What is a .AC domain?
The .AC domain is a ccTLD (country code top level domain), and the Internet country code for Ascension Island. As part of the British Overseas Territory, this island is grouped with Saint Helena and the island group Tristan da Cunha. They are located in the South Atlantic Ocean, midway between South America and Africa where Ascension Island lies 700 nautical miles northwest of Saint Helena. This island is only 56 square miles, about twice the size of Washington D.C. The combined population of the British Overseas Territory is 7,601 and the national language is English.
Why should I register a .AC domain?
Although there are many domains registered by entities associated with Ascension Island, it is becoming popularized in other facets. People within the academic community are beginning to use .AC as a shortened version of academia.
Protecting yourself and your identity is all too important in today's world. The same standards apply to protecting your business and personal identity online. Protecting your brand is an important reason to register ccTLDs. Being the initial purchaser of your brand in a TLD is a much wiser idea than attempting to acquire names after someone else has registered them.
Additionally, it is much easier to purchase a common word or short domain name in a ccTLD than in the more popular and heavily populated TLDs like .COM. Country code TLDs also present the opportunity to register domain hacks such as zodi.AC, mani.AC, or alman.AC.
Are there any restrictions for registering a .AC?
There are no restrictions for registering a top level .AC domain. Registration for these domain names is open to anyone, similar to .COM, .NET, or .ORG. However, there are restrictions for second and third level .AC domains.
To register a second-level domain, the registrant must have professional or academic qualifications. Alternately, they may hold a vaid membersip of an Institute or Trade Association.
To register a third-level .AC domain, you must be a resident of Ascension Island.