DotShabaka top-level internet domain goes live

An Arabic net address ending has become the first to go live as part of the rollout of more than 1,000 new generic top-level domain (gTLD) name suffixes.

The first websites ending in شبكة. - pronounced dot shabaka, and meaning web - went online a day ahead of schedule.

Until now, there were only 22 gTLDs, including .com and .org, in addition to country code endings, such as .uk.

Organisers say the existing system had become too crowded, but critics say the expansion will add to firms' costs.

- BBC.co.uk