ICANN - Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers

07/29/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/29/2025 03:13

ICANN Launches Self-Test for New gTLD Registry Service Providers

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) today announced the availability of the Registry System Testing (RST) v2.0 service. RST ensures that registry operators (ROs) have the technical capacity to operate a generic top-level domain (gTLD) in a stable and secure manner.

One of the primary uses of the new and improved platform is to evaluate the technical capabilities of applicants in the New gTLD Program: Next Round Registry Service Provider (RSP) Evaluation Program. All RSPs that participate in the New gTLD Program must clear technical testing using RST v2.0, and all new gTLD applicants must specify which successfully evaluated RSP(s) will deliver their critical registry services.

RST v2.0 also will be used for Pre-Delegation Testing (PDT), which must be completed by prospective ROs before submitting a delegation request for a gTLD.

RST v2.0 improves on RST v1.0 by making the testing process more efficient for current gTLDs, allowing multiple tests to run in parallel and reducing overall testing time.

One of the key features of RST v2.0 is its self-service capability, which eliminates the need for manual testing by skilled engineers as required in the previous version. The new service also includes an Operational Testing and Evaluation (OT&E) environment, which enables current and prospective ROs and RSPs to develop and validate their implementations prior to a formal technical evaluation in a production setting.

ICANN encourages community members to explore the new platform by using the OT&E environment and call out any areas that may need further development. To request access, you must first complete these specific steps and submit a request to obtain access to the OT&E environment through the Naming Services portal, or by emailing [email protected].

About ICANN

ICANN's mission is to help ensure a stable, secure, and unified global Internet. To reach another person on the Internet, you need to type an address - a name or a number - into your computer or other device. That address must be unique so computers know where to find each other. ICANN helps coordinate and support these unique identifiers across the world. ICANN was formed in 1998 as a nonprofit public benefit corporation with a community of participants from all over the world.

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ICANN - Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers published this content on July 29, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on July 29, 2025 at 09:13 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]