Salmond hails strong backing for Scottish internet domain name

Published on Saturday 13 December 2008 18:48

SCOTTISH and international organisations have given strong backing to creating a separate internet domain name north of the border. Two Government surveys showed support among Scots organisations running at 58% and in an international poll the figure rose to 82%.

Ministers aim to create a Scottish web domain – current suggestions are '.scot' and '.sco' – and have set up a working group. The group is making preparations to bid for a new domain in 2009, when the body responsible for the domain name system will invite applications for new ones.

First Minister Alex Salmond set off on a trip to the Spanish region of Catalonia yesterday, during which he will hear about the success of the area's domain name, '.cat'. It has attracted 30,000 registrations in the past two years.

Speaking ahead of his visit, Salmond said: "The time is ripe for the worldwide family of Scots to have their own domain reflecting an online community defined by a shared commitment to Scottish identity, culture and economic promotion.

"It is not only for Scots who live in Scotland but for our extensive diaspora."