Understanding new gTLD numbers: scale, costs, and key considerations.

ICANN received 1,930 applications during the 2012 New gTLD Round application window (January 12 – May 30, 2012). This was substantially higher than ICANN's initial projections of 500–1,000 applications.

Of those 1,930 applications:

• ~1,217 TLDs were eventually delegated into the DNS root zone (as of 2025)
• ~400 applications were withdrawn or terminated before delegation
• ~313 applications were contested strings that required contention resolution
• ~66 strings went to public auction for contention resolution
• ~100 applications were still in various stages of evaluation as of late 2024

The gap between applications (1,930) and delegations (~1,217) reflects withdrawals, failed evaluations, and contention losses. The effective delegation rate was approximately 63%.

The 1,930 applications from 2012 broke down approximately as follows:

Brand TLDs were the second-largest category. Most large multinational corporations with strong trademark portfolios applied. Brand TLDs operate under Specification 13 of the Registry Agreement, restricting registration to the brand owner exclusively — they do not sell domains to the public.

Generic TLDs form the commercial backbone of the new gTLD ecosystem. The most successful generic new gTLDs by registration volume include .TOP, .XYZ, .ONLINE, .SITE, .SHOP, and .APP.

New gTLD costs have several components:

• ICANN: The 2026 Round base evaluation fee was USD 227,000 per application, plus applicable path-specific fees.
• Contention and objections: Costs depend on the processes the application encounters.
• Backend and operations: RSP, DNS, security, integration, support, and SLA follow actual proposals.
• Professional services: Strategy, documentation, legal, and financial planning follow the agreed scope.

There is no single total budget for every applicant. Use actual quotes and separate initial costs, operating costs, and a contention contingency.

ICANN's RSP evaluation program helps applicants compare providers against technical and operational requirements.

• Current status matters: Check the official list; provider status can change.
• Scope matters: Main and additional-service evaluations are shown separately.
• Capacity matters: Confirm that the provider can support the application and operating model.
• The agreement matters: Responsibilities, service targets, cost, and migration terms should be explicit.

ADG has cleared ICANN's Main RSP evaluation and provides registry technology and operational support from Indonesia.

The ICANN 2026 New gTLD application window ran from 30 April to 12 August 2026 and is now closed. More than 1,600 applications were submitted according to ICANN's post-window announcement.

What matters next:

• Evaluation: Applications move through the relevant string, applicant, financial, and operational reviews
• Contention and objections: Competing or challenged strings may require additional resolution steps
• Contracting and readiness: Successful applicants complete contracting, RSP coordination, and required technical testing
• Delegation: Timing varies by application; complex cases can take materially longer than straightforward, uncontested applications

Applicants should follow ICANN's current program milestones and use the official evaluated-RSP list when confirming backend support.