In November 2025, a small but highly telling development unfolded within the ICANN ecosystem. The Applicant Support Program (ASP), often discussed in abstract terms, began producing tangible outcomes. At Dotup, we advised four applicants during this phase, and all four secured approval.

In late March 2026 news of airtelblack.com went viral. Users on X and Reddit shared a parody site that looked like an official Airtel Black page but instead mocked the telecom operator’s customer service.

John Matson recently published an insightful analysis highlighting how New gTLDs performed in 2025. His conclusions are particularly relevant as the industry prepares for the next ICANN application round expected to open in April 2026.