Administration of the ".ch" internet domain - SWITCH successful in tender process

Biel/Bienne, 01.09.2016 - The SWITCH Foundation will again be the registry for the ".ch" domain for the next five years. It won the public tender process which the Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) launched in mid-April 2016. Its candidature stood out for the combination of an excellent concept for combating cybercrime and a good price/performance ratio. The decision was published today on simap.ch, the electronic public procurement platform in Switzerland.

The award means that from 2017 to 2021 the Switch foundation will administer the national database of .ch domain names and will ensure the electronic link with the global domain name system (DNS). Its tasks also include the assignment and revocation of the right to use internet addresses with the ending ".ch". The contract was awarded within the framework of a public invitation to tender.

SWITCH is receiving the mandate because its bid achieved the highest score of the bids which were submitted. Both qualitative criteria and the wholesale price offered were evaluated. Switch's bid stands out in particular in the key area of combatting cybercrime. SWITCH has operated the .ch internet domain on behalf of the federation since 2003.

Since the entry into force of the Ordinance on Internet Domains (OID) in 2015, end customers can no longer turn to the registry designated by OFCOM for the registration of .ch domain names but must order their .ch domain names directly from accredited points of sale. The award decision does not therefore have any direct effect on domain name owners. The corresponding end customer contracts continue to run unchanged.

Transfer of the registry function

Addressing elements such as telephone numbers or .ch internet addresses are important resources for Switzerland. The Telecommunications Act transfers administration of these resources to OFCOM. However, the law also allows for the possibility, in special cases, of transferring the administration and assignment of specific addressing resources to third parties. In relation to the registry function for .ch internet addresses the state's task of administration and assignment had already been outsourced in the past, and this has functioned satisfactorily.


Address for enquiries

Federal Office of Communications OFCOM
Press service, +41 58 460 55 50, media@bakom.admin.ch



Publisher

Federal Office of Communications
http://www.ofcom.admin.ch

https://www.bakom.admin.ch/content/bakom/en/homepage/ofcom/ofcom-s-information/press-releases-nsb.msg-id-63597.html