Norid might launch .bv as new TLD
Bouvet Map” by varp – Own work. Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
The Norwegian registrar NORID is, besides .no, also responsible for the domain name extension .bv (Bouvet Island). Despite the fact that Bouvet Island has zero inhabitants, it still has its own country code and thus also its own top level domain. From Norway, there is however no interest in registering .bv domain names (simply because Bouvet Island has no residents, so also no economy). Until recently, the registry even had a standard message on their website to make clear that .bv registration are not possible.
It however looks like they are in the process of changing their mind on this. It has become clear to them that “BV” also is a Dutch company type. So Norid is now talking with the Dutch registry SIDN to look into the possibility of selling .bv domain names to Dutch companies.
The Norwegian government would have already given its go-ahead as they look forward to receiving a percentage of the income this could generate.