Maturing and growing: today the .БЕЛ domain turns 11 years old

Today marks 11 years since the .БЕЛ domain was delegated to the Republic of Belarus. National domains are ideal for focusing on the local business market, and using multiple domains, such as in our case – Latin and Cyrillic – significantly expands opportunities and reduces risks.

Using multiple country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs) for a single country is a strategy that typically combines technical flexibility and cultural identity. Key benefits include inclusivity and increased resiliency of the national network. The benefits of another national domain are clear for everyone: citizens benefit from clear addresses in their native language and ease of entry; businesses benefit from available short names and trademark protection; and the state benefits from operational stability, digital sovereignty, and the promotion of national culture.

The new .БЕЛ Cyrillic domain for Belarus is in demand primarily by large Belarusian brands, government organizations, social projects, entrepreneurs, and individuals to create memorable websites targeting local audiences and improving search engine visibility.

Summing up the results of 2025, we noted encouraging growth: as of December 31, the .БЕЛ domain zone registry contained 15,456 names, and has grown by 455 domains over the past year. The largest number of registrations occurred in July – 398, while the smallest number occurred in November – 135.

Interesting facts:

• The majority, or more precisely, over 80% of .БЕЛ domain names in the registry are registered in the city of Minsk and the Minsk region
• The owners of these registered domains are not only Belarusian organizations and citizens, but also non-residents of the Republic of Belarus from 33 countries. The top three are China, Russia, and the United States
• As of early February 2026, the number of shortest two-character domains in the .БЕЛ zone was 189, while the longest was a 48-character domain: устранение-засоров-прочистка-канализации-могилев.бел

The .БЕЛ national domain zone, with its uniqueness and distinctiveness, can be considered a national treasure of the Republic of Belarus. It is not only a place for domain registration, but also a digital environment in which the Belarusian language and culture are promoted online. And its development depends largely on us – Belarusians. It is important to actively participate in its development by creating high-quality content and supporting domestic projects.

Congratulations to .BEL on its 11th anniversary and wishing it prosperity and growth!