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18(b) How do you expect that your proposed gTLD will benefit registrants, Internet users, and others?

gTLDFull Legal NameE-mail suffixDetail
.STCGROUPSaudi Telecom Companycentralnic.comView
i. The TLD has been specifically designed to meet STC’s requirements and facilitate its corporate mission. Mirroring ICANNʹs own goals of promoting consumer protection, security, stability, innovation, and rights protection, STC’s application for and desire to operate the TLD affirms its commitment to these areas and will ensure their execution. The domain will allow authorized parties within STC to register the shortest, most intuitive, and most descriptive domain names possible relating to STC brands and product offerings. Consumers will be aware that corporate communications and websites are authorized by STC - promoting their confidence in the brand and their protection from potentially harmful third parties.
ii. The TLD will be the first TLD specifically designed to serve the needs of STC’s brand, business, and consumers - allowing all to grow and prosper unhindered in the digital landscape without the limitations of generic or ccTLD endings. It will provide ICANN-mandated levels of technical service and serve as a platform for the expansion of STC’s services and product offerings as previously described.
Additionally, the TLD will promote ICANN’s goals of promoting competition, consumer trust, consumer choice, security, and rights protection by:
• diversifying the ownership and control of gTLD registries
• introducing a gTLD registry owned and operated in the Middle East (an unprecedented evolution)
• introducing a gTLD registry with operations in a number of territories where the domain industry is heretofore undeveloped
• providing a zone where the significant number of brand users and affiliates can receive accurate information about STC and its product offerings and services
• operating at the levels of technical security and stability required by ICANNʹs new gTLD program
• protecting STC as a rights holder, creating a dedicated zone wherein complete brand protection and control is guaranteed
iii. The TLD will allow web users to easily identify the STC brand worldwide – unimpeded by artificial boundaries (such as generic or ccTLD endings) and secure in the knowledge that the communications and information uncompromisingly originate directly from STC. The TLD will assist with the dissemination of information about STC product offerings, allowing internet users to become more familiar with the services offered and the various business units within the STC brand universe. It will be a trusted zone functioning at the highest standards of technical and operational utility and security.
iv. The TLD is open to registrations by authorized parties and business units within STC for assigning domains related to the STC brands. Although individual business units within STC may wish to adopt their own strategies corresponding specifically with their unique requirements or market preferences, the common denominator will be employing the TLD to unite STC sites and services under an uncompromised, secure, stable, and innovative digital hub. The marketing and branding activities undertaken by STC internationally will reinforce this goal.
As further detailed in the responses to questions 28 and 29, STC will implement all rights protection mechanisms required by ICANN (including but not limited to the URS and the UDRP) and will additionally operate a Sunrise period for Trademark holders prior to General Availability (again, in accordance with all ICANN rules).
A complete version of the intended registration policy is provided in response to question 29.
v. STC in its capacity as a TLD registry operator will not be providing any special services for protecting the privacy or confidential information of registrants or end-users apart from those required by applicable laws, policies, agreements or technical standards. Some registry services intrinsically support the protection of usersʹ confidential information. Examples of such services are:
• SRS (protecting confidentiality of the EPP transfer authorisation codes)
• Dissemination of TLD zone files (protecting confidentiality of zone file FTP accounts credentials)
All registry services, including those described above, will be provided in accordance with the ICANN requirements and specifications to the Registry Agreement. The data security measures adopted by STC are described in detail in the answer to question 30 ʺSecurity Policyʺ.
vi. STC will incorporate the use of the TLD in its existing marketing campaigns and materials in order to encourage user understanding, protection, and uptake. These communications and outreach efforts will ensure internet users, STC customers, and the wider public are aware that the information disseminated on the TLD will provide content directly originating from STC.
gTLDFull Legal NameE-mail suffixDetail
.qtelQatar Telecom (Qtel)centralnic.comView
i. The TLD has been specifically designed to meet Qtel’s requirements and facilitate its corporate mission. Mirroring ICANNʹs own goals of promoting consumer protection, security, stability, innovation, and rights protection, Qtel’s application for and desire to operate the TLD affirms its commitment to these areas and will ensure their execution. The domain will allow authorized parties within Qtel to register the shortest, most intuitive, and most descriptive domain names possible. Various business units under the Qtel corporate aegis will have access to the most efficient web and email addresses and be united under the Qtel brand umbrella. Consumers will be aware that corporate communications and websites are authorized by Qtel - promoting their confidence in the brand and their protection from potentially harmful third parties.

ii. The TLD will be the first TLD specifically designed to serve the needs of Qtel’s brand, business, and consumers - allowing all to grow and prosper unhindered in the digital landscape. It will provide ICANN-mandated levels of technical service and serve as a platform for the expansion of Qtel’s services and product offerings as previously described.
Additionally, the TLD will promote ICANN’s goals of promoting competition, consumer trust, consumer choice, security, and rights protection by:
• diversifying the ownership and control of gTLD registries
• introducing a gTLD registry owned and operated in the Middle East (an unprecedented evolution)
• introducing a gTLD registry with operations in a number of territories where the domain industry is heretofore undeveloped
• providing a zone where the significant number of brand users and affiliates can receive accurate information about Qtel and its product offerings and services
• operating at the levels of technical security and stability required by ICANNʹs new gTLD program
• protecting Qtel as a rights holder, creating a dedicated zone wherein complete brand protection and control is guaranteed

iii. The TLD will allow web users to easily identify the Qtel brand worldwide – unimpeded by artificial boundaries (such as generic or ccTLD endings) and secure in the knowledge that the communications and information uncompromisingly originate directly from Qtel. The TLD will assist with the dissemination of information about Qtel product offerings, allowing internet users to become more familiar with the services offered and the various business units within the Qtel brand universe. It will be a trusted zone functioning at the highest standards of technical and operational utility and security.

iv. The TLD is open to registrations by authorized parties and business units within the Qtel Group. Although individual business units within the Qtel Group may wish to adopt their own strategies corresponding specifically with their unique requirements or market preferences, the common denominator will be employing the TLD to unite Qtel Group sites and services under an uncompromised, secure, stable, and innovative digital hub. The marketing and branding activities undertaken by Qtel Group internationally will reinforce this goal.
As further detailed in the responses to questions 28 and 29, Qtel will implement all rights protection mechanisms required by ICANN (including but not limited to the URS and the UDRP) and will additionally operate a Sunrise period for Trademark holders prior to General Availability (again, in accordance with all ICANN rules).
A copy of the intended registration policy can be found in response to question 29.

v. Qtel in its capacity as a TLD registry operator will not be providing any special services for protecting the privacy or confidential information of registrants or end-users apart from those required by applicable laws, policies, agreements or technical standards. Some registry services intrinsically support the protection of usersʹ confidential information. Examples of such services are:
• SRS (protecting confidentiality of the EPP transfer authorisation codes)
• Dissemination of TLD zone files (protecting confidentiality of zone file FTP accounts credentials)
All registry services, including those described above, will be provided in accordance with the ICANN requirements and specifications to the Registry Agreement. The data security measures adopted by Qtel are described in detail in the answer to question 30 ʺSecurity Policyʺ.

vi. Qtel will incorporate the use of the TLD in its existing marketing campaigns and materials in order to encourage user understanding, protection, and uptake. These communications and outreach efforts will ensure internet users, Qtel customers, and the wider public are aware that the information disseminated on the TLD will provide content directly originating from Qtel.