.bg
 | |
| Introduced | 3 January 1995 |
|---|---|
| TLD type | Country code top-level domain |
| Status | Active |
| Registry | Register.bg |
| Sponsor | Register.bg |
| Intended use | Entities connected with Bulgaria |
| Actual use | Popular in Bulgaria |
| Registration restrictions | Must be in Bulgaria or have a representative there |
| Structure | Registrations are taken at second or third level |
| Documents | Terms & conditions (2025) |
| DNSSEC | yes |
| IDN | yes |
| Registry website | www |
.bg is the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Bulgaria in the Domain Name System of the Internet. As of 2025, it is operated by Register.BG, the official registry responsible for managing domain registrations in the .bg namespace.
The .bg domain name registry was first established in 1991[1] and was officially introduced for public registration on 3 January 1995,[2] coinciding with Bulgaria's early integration into the global Internet infrastructure. As the country's digital landscape evolved, the responsibility for domain registration and management transitioned in 2001 to Register.BG, a newly formed entity dedicated to overseeing the .bg domain space.
During the initial years, the .bg registry underwent significant transformations. Initially, domain registration and support were entirely free for the first seven years, with an open registration model available for the first four. Despite this accessibility, fewer than 1,000 domain names were registered during that time. These early years were marked by challenges such as low internet adoption in business and government, limited public engagement, and an overall lack of digital infrastructure—all compounded by a prolonged economic downturn.
.bg domains can be registered by individuals and entities within the European Union, as well as by foreign companies that maintain a registered branch or commercial representative in Bulgaria. Since 2024, domain transfers and renewals can also be processed entirely online through the Register.BG portal.[3] The price of domain registration is €30 per year (€36 including VAT).
Until mid-2006, the price was a one-time registration fee of 86 Leva plus 86 Leva per year (total of 207 Leva including VAT for the first year). For local standards this was a very high price, and many Bulgarian sites were registered under .com (esp -bg.com), .org, or .net domains, as the registration costs were significantly lower (13 to 20 Leva per year) and less of a bureaucratic hassle.[4]
From 25 August 2008, Register.BG simplified the procedures, allowing the registration of domain names in the .bg zone without providing documented grounds (trademarks, company names) for the name.[5] Eventual disputes are to be solved via the newly established Arbitration committee.[6]
Since 18 September 2006, Register.bg proposes new, third-level domains in the a.bg, b.bg, etc., subdomains (a Latin letter or a digit +.bg), lower cost (€12/year incl. VAT), with less restrictions and no dispute resolution.[5] They are targeted mainly at private individuals.[7]
The domain has supported Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) since October 2007, with full deployment across all accredited registrars completed in 2023 to enhance protection against DNS spoofing attacks.
On 5 September 2009, Register.bg began accepting second- and third-level domain names in Cyrillic using only letters from the Bulgarian alphabet. In 2022, the policy was expanded to allow mixed-script domain names under certain conditions to accommodate brand identity needs.[8]
See also
References
- ^ "Register.BG - The registry of names in the .bg top level zone". www.register.bg. Retrieved 2025-02-11.
- ^ "IANA Root Zone Database - .bg". Retrieved 2025-08-11.
- ^ "Register.bg Online Services Update 2024". Retrieved 2025-08-11.
- ^ Митов, Мартин Митков (December 2003). "Защо българските фирми избягват окончанието .bg" [Why Bulgarian firms avoid the .bg extension] (in Bulgarian). Словото. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023.
- ^ a b "Terms and conditions, art. 2.3.4.2 and 2.3.5". Archived from the original on 2010-11-20. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
- ^ "Terms and Conditions, Arbitration". Archived from the original on 2010-11-20. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
- ^ "Уважаеми клиенти" [Dear clients] (in Bulgarian). Register.BG Ltd. 18 September 2006. Archived from the original on 6 August 2012.
- ^ "Terms and conditions - Label". Archived from the original on 2010-11-20. Retrieved 2009-01-14.