Global domain leader VeriSign has recently released their industry brief which estimates that nearly 2.3 million domains were added to the internet in the fourth quarter of 2016 which brings the total domain number to 329.3 million across all TLDs. The gTLD and ccTLD data in the report includes ccTLD internationalized domain names and represents data that is subject to change and completion.

Domain name registrations have grown by 21 million or 6.8% compared to the previous year. As of the end of 2016, the .com domain database contained 126.9 mln registrations. .Net domains reached 15.3 mln registrations. Numbers are calculated on the basis of the active zone and domains that are registered but not configured for use plus the number of domains that are in a client or server hold status.

Overall, 8.8 mln .com and .net domains were registered in the last quarter of 2016 compared to new 12.2 mln registered for the same period in 2015.

To learn more about domain registration, go to <What you should Know before Registering your Domain> and <How to Choose the Right Domain Registrar for you?>.

For more news on registering, transferring and buying domains, visit <GoDaddy will Increase .Net Domain Prices> and <What’s New in ICANN’s New Domain Transfer Policy?>.