Record rate of websites using .ie

THERE are a record 141,243 websites using the .ie domain name according to the latest figures from the IE Domain Registry (IEDR), the managedregistry for Ireland’s official internet address, .ie.

The IEDR reported a 2.2% year-on-year increase in .ie domain registrations for March. Registrations for the month totalled 3,686; the highest number recorded in a single month during the past 12 months. The number of .ie domains now stands at over 141,000.

The figures for Q1 2010 reveal signs of a general uplift in registrations towards the second half of Q1. Overall there were 9,651 .ie domains registered in the first quarter, a decline of 1.35% compared to the same period last year, which remains the best performing first quarter to date. January experienced the sharpest decline in registrations, down 8.4% year-on-year.

Chief executive of the IE Domain Registry David Curtin said it is very encouraging to have ended the first quarter with renewed growth in .ie domain registrations and a very solid performance in March, with registrations up 2.2% in March year-on-year and up 15.4% on the previous month.

“The decline in registration volumes at the beginning of the year was not unexpected given the tough and testing economic conditions Irish businesses are and continue to operate under, particularly SMEs,” he said.

Not withstanding the ongoing economic challenges for businesses and customers, month-on-month registrations increased again towards the end of the first quarter, rising by 15.2% between January and February and 15.4% between February and March. Year-on-year the registration figures for February and March rose by 1.4% and 2.2 % respectively.