The importance the Internet has gained for all areas of economic and social life is more evident than ever in the current situation of the coronavirus pandemic. The time people spent on the Internet in general is increasing just as significantly as DNS query rates [1] and domain registration numbers in order to provide new web offers [2], all this driving an accelerated digital transformation. Yet only very few people reflect on how immensely important it is and who ultimately ensures that the technical infrastructures for smooth Internet usage are stable, secure and have sufficient backup capacities.
The German Network Information Center DENIC plays an essential role as a central link between users and the Web. With its name service as a "navigation system" for the German namespace .de, it has been operating a basic technical resource – and at the same time critical infrastructure – of the Internet in Germany for more than 23 years on a 24/7 basis. Whether websites, e-mail, download portals, web shops, online banking systems or social networks: Not only during these extraordinary times DENIC has played a decisive role in making the now nearly 16.5 million Internet offerings with the ending .de accessible for the German and international Internet community in a fast and reliable manner anytime.
Topical Data, Facts and Figures about DENIC and .de
In its Activity Report 2019 now presented, DENIC, which is organised as a cooperative association of several hundred domain registrars and Internet Service Providers from Germany, Europe and all over the world, gives an overview of the business development and the current situation of the company and highlights technical innovations and significant events in the past financial year, against the background of the economic and political framework conditions of the domain industry.
The report is rounded off by a detailed look at the project portfolio as well as planned projects and course-setting measures to ensure the long-term stability and availability of the .de namespace and to develop new, future-oriented services with a view to the company’s strategic goals, together with a comprehensive presentation of DENIC's far-reaching involvement in numerous committees and organisations at national and international level to promote the free, open and secure Internet.
DENIC's Activity Report 2019 is also available for download at the media center of this website. If you are interested in print copies, please send an e-mail to presse[at]denic[dot]de.
[1] DNS query rates for .de domains have increased significantly in the first half of 2020, against the previous year.
[2] Compared to March 2020 (+9,000), the net number of new registrations under .de have tripled in April (+31,000), quadrupled in May (+40,000) and more than doubled in June (+23,000). Compared to the preceding year (01 – 12/2019: +120,000/+0.7%), the net growth in domain numbers under .de exceeded last year’s total value by 28 percent already in the first half of the current year (01 – 06/2020: +154,000/+0.95%).