Over the past four decades, the .UK domain has played a significant role in the massive growth of the Internet. In fact, it has become an inseparable part of our country’s digital identity – with .UK being adopted in 1985 as one of the world’s first country codes (ccTLDs) instead of .GB due to its existing use in the academic world.
From those earliest days – with .UK being registered before the basis of the modern internet, the world wide web, .UK was initially managed by University College London. After this, it was managed by United Kingdom Education and Research Networking Association (UKERNA), before Nominet was founded in 1996 and took over its operation.
Fast forward 40 years and .UK remains one of the world’s most popular ccTLDs, with over 10m domains registered – and 2 trillion related DNS requests handled annually. Nominet is a public benefit company that’s run for the greater good. Today, more than 2,000 Nominet members who sell .UK domains have worked with the company to bring the benefits of being online to all – championing a safe, secure and resilient internet.
Anyone who has purchased a .UK domain helps make Nominet’s work possible – enabling the company to contribute to a wide range of projects that benefit society at large, from supplying IT kit to schools or supporting online safety initiatives, to offering training to those looking to move into tech roles. Nominet also funds projects that counter online harms – and supports online infrastructure initiatives.
As we look back over the last 40 years – it’s natural to wonder, what made .UK so popular and relied on by millions of individuals and businesses? As one of the most established domains in the world, it’s become a popular choice with a clearly identifiable connection to their country of origin, a badge of authenticity that helps them stand out. The .UK domain is also seen as a safe and trusted namespace, thanks to the work of .UK registrars, alongside Nominet and law enforcement agencies, who have worked hard to keep .UK free of domain abuse and online harms.
As we look into the future of .UK – Nominet itself celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2026 – with significant projects underway to modernise the technical systems behind the .UK domain and the company’s other ccTLDs and gTLDs under management. These advancements will enhance the experience of those working with Nominet, while initiatives like the company’s recent Domain Health Initiative will continue to improve the experience of those visiting .UK domains.
We raise a virtual toast to the 40th anniversary of .UK and all of those who have been involved in its success. There are millions of stories out there, thanks to the people, businesses and communities that have made .UK a vital part of their daily lives.
Thank you!
Visit The UK Domain to register your .UK domain today.
Author: Will Guyatt – Head of Communications, Nominet.