.ZA price hikes announced

The .ZA Domain Name Authority has (Zadna) announced price hikes for the co.za, org.za, net.za, and web.za domains.

Zadna CEO Molehe Wesi said the decision is based on a comprehensive financial analysis and the impact of inflation and exchange rates on its operational expenditure.

“This decision follows thorough consultations with industry stakeholders and aligns with current economic developments and operational needs,” says Wesi.

Zadna will implement a 5.23% price adjustment in the rate of Billable Transactions for all co.za, org.za, net.za, and web.za domains from 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2025.

It notes that the price adjustment is CPI-linked, and it will increase the registration and renewal fee from R55 to R61 per domain name.

It’s important to note that these are wholesale fee increases. Registrars must determine whether they can absorb the increases or whether they have to pass them on to customers.

Zadna also highlighted its expected price hikes for the 2025/26 and 2026/27 financial years. Over the next three years, the price increases for .ZA will be as follows:

• 2024/25 — 5.23%
• 2025/26 — 6.56%
• 2026/27 — 6.15%

“These figures will be confirmed annually in July, based on the prevailing Consumer Price Index (CPI), allowing for industry implementation in October of every year,” says Wesi.

He said stakeholders should align their timelines and communications with Zadna’s adjustments for a smooth transition.

Zadna also announced the launch of the Non-Commercial Development fund, which will see the ZA Registry Consortium (ZARC) collect and transfer accumulated funds each month to support non-commercial initiatives and capacity developments.

Wesi said the organisation would introduce a policy change to allow multi-year registration and renewals on terms of up to five years.

“This new option will coexist with the current annual registration and renewal structure, providing registrants with greater flexibility and choice,” he said.

Zadna hopes to implement the policy by 1 October 2024 and will collaborate with ZARC and the registrar community in the months leading up to it to ensure a smooth transition.