APTLD89 Communiqué

The 89th APTLD Members Hybrid Meeting and Annual General Meeting (APTLD89) took place from February 2 to 5, 2026, in Amman, Jordan. This event was held under the patronage of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship (MoDEE), hosted by MoDEE (.jo Registry) and with the contribution of APTLD members. The gathering united APTLD members, ccTLD managers, industry experts, partners, and stakeholders from across the Asia Pacific region and beyond, creating an invaluable platform for collaboration, capacity building, and strategic discussions regarding the evolving landscape of domain names and Internet governance.

APTLD89 kicked off with a dedicated Hybrid Training Day on February 2, aimed at enhancing the technical, operational, and strategic capabilities of members. The training sessions covered essential topics such as:

• Leveraging data analytics for registry growth
• Practical applications of artificial intelligence in ccTLD operations
• Strategies to boost domain adoption among individuals and small businesses
• Best practices in DNS operations and security
• Deployment of domain names and email addresses in local languages

These sessions provided participants with practical insights and technical expertise to foster resilience, innovation, and inclusivity within their registries and registrars.

The Members Hybrid Meeting sessions held on February 3 and 4 featured a comprehensive and engaging agenda. Key highlights included:

• Members’ Updates
• Working Group Updates
• Partner Organizations’ Updates (ICANN, ISOC, CENTR, ccNSO)

These segments offered participants a broad perspective on regional developments, ongoing initiatives, and collaborative efforts within the larger Internet ecosystem. The program also allowed structured opportunities for members to provide feedback, share perspectives, and suggest directions for APTLD, contributing to discussions on how the community can collectively move forward in 2026 and beyond. Panel discussions delved into critical topics such as:

• Business continuity planning
• DNS abuse detection and automation
• Premium domain strategies
• Compliance alignment between registries and registrars
• Emerging technologies
• Effective communication strategies for ccTLD managers

Throughout the program, there was a strong emphasis on cybersecurity, operational resilience, good governance, and trust-building.

During the AGM meeting, members endorsed the APTLD Code of Conduct and the APTLD Complaint Form, as proposed by the Working Group on Complaints Policy. This marked a significant milestone in reinforcing APTLD’s governance framework, accountability mechanisms, and commitment to transparency.

APTLD89 recorded a total of 123 registrations, comprising 78 onsite participants and 45 online participants. This shows strong engagement from the membership. While APTLD has 47 Ordinary Members and 37 Associate Members, the meeting also included 24 invited guests who are not part of APTLD, highlighting the diversity, collaboration, and inclusiveness of the APTLD community.

The APTLD Annual General Meeting (AGM) allowed members to review and approve key governance matters, including Board nominations, the 2025 Chair’s report, the 2025 General Manager report, the 2025 financial accounts, and projections for 2026, while also discussing APTLD’s future direction. The meeting concluded with forward-looking reflections on “Internet for All,” reaffirming APTLD’s commitment to its members and to fostering an open, inclusive, secure, and resilient Internet.

APTLD expresses its heartfelt gratitude to the headline sponsors (Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, ShortDot), silver sponsors (ISOC, RIPE NCC, ICANN), and light sponsor (dotUp) for their generous support, which significantly contributed to the success of APTLD89. Thanks are also extended to all speakers, partners, and participants. The program was further enriched by social events and a Networking Tour Day, which strengthened professional relationships and regional cooperation within the APTLD community.