Irish group seeking to manage EU's Net domain

A consortium of prominent political and business figures is bidding to manage the European Union's new internet domain address ".eu".

The consortium, called Eureto, is chaired by businessman Mr Paul Kavanagh, and directors include diplomat and former Irish ambassador to the US Mr Seán Donlon, former Labour party leader and Tánaiste Mr Dick Spring, and former minister Mr David Andrews.

The bid, supported by governments on both sides of the border, proposes operations based in Letterkenny and Derry.

Supporters claim it would directly create more than 200 jobs in technical support, multilingual support and administration. The consortium did not disclose details of its financing.

The .eu domain, which will be available to European businesses, organisations and individuals, will come into operation in 2003. It will operate as a "top-level" domain - the part of an internet address that comes at the end of an e-mail address or website, on par with domains such as ".com", ".org" and ".info".

"From the country's point of view, this would be hugely prestigious," said Mr Kavanagh.

He also said it would boost the perception of the State abroad as a supportive e-commerce environment.

The domain registry would operate over two separate networks in Donegal and Derry so that, if one network failed, the registry could be managed from its cross-border counterpart.

The bid is relying on the Government's completion of its plan to encircle Letterkenny with a high-speed fibre telecommunications network within the coming months and the completion of the proposed Atlantic Broadband Corridor (ABC), a fibre backbone running down the west coast.

If successful, Eureto would operate as a private company and would secure an initial five-year, renewable contract from the EU. The deadline for bids is October 25th, with a final decision to be made by the end of the year. It is believed other bids may come from Switzerland, France, and a joint grouping of Britain and Luxembourg.

The administration of a top-level domain would likely create opportunities for legal work as well, Mr Kavanagh said.

Domain administration typically requires resolving legal questions over trademark ownership, cybersquatting (third-party registration of a name generally identified with an existing company or individual) and other identity issues.

The .eu names will be available initially to citizens and entities in Treaty of Rome countries but will be expanded to the European economic area and accession countries.

In the first three months, trademark names will be able to register domains, in an attempt to curtail cybersquatting.

Afterwards the domain names will be open to all. Those holding country-specific domain names, such as Irish addresses ending in .ie, could also apply for .eu name.

Partner companies to the bid include Accenture, Deloitte & Touche, Fleishman-Hillard Saunders, Ivor Fitzpatrick & Co, the Irish Internet Association, PA Consulting Group and 451 Design.

Directors include Mr Jean-Christophe le Toquin, a barrister, a spokesman for the French Internet Service Providers Association and vice-president of EuroISPA; and Mr Axel Pawlik, managing director of RIPE Network Co-ordination Centre, a regional internet registry for internet addresses.