Johannesburg, South Africa – July 20, 2026 – The ZA Registry Consortium (ZARC), the contracted registry operator for South Africa’s premier commercial second-level domains (.co.za, .org.za, .net.za, and .web.za), is celebrating accelerated growth in 2026, bringing the total domain count across all zones tantalizingly close to a major milestone.
Recent data shows ZARC’s registry has added more than 64,000 net new domains in recent months. With the current total just 24,088 domains short of 1.5 million, the organization is on track to reach this landmark during Q4 2026 — with October increasingly looking achievable if current trends persist.
A 36-month rolling view of domain counts highlights the impressive upward trajectory. Following steady growth in prior years, the line has steepened markedly throughout 2026, demonstrating resilience and rising demand for South African domain names – https://stats.registry.net.za/.
This expansion is supported by DNS Business, ZARC’s trusted Registrar Service Provider (RSP), which plays a key role in delivering reliable, efficient, and secure registration services to accredited registrars and the broader domain ecosystem.
“Reaching 1.5 million domains will be a proud moment that reflects the growing digital maturity of South African businesses, organizations, and individuals,” said Kilana Chohan a ZARC spokesperson. “We are grateful for the partnership with DNS Business and our accredited registrars, whose efforts help make .ZA domains the preferred choice for local online identity.”
ZARC’s commitment to technical excellence, cybersecurity, and locally relevant services continues to drive confidence in the .ZA namespace. As one of Africa’s largest country-code top-level domains, .co.za in particular remains the go-to extension for South African entities seeking credibility, local SEO advantages, and cost-effective digital presence.
The milestone underscores broader positive trends in South Africa’s digital economy, including rising internet penetration, SME digitalization, and a strong national preference for .ZA domains.
For the latest statistics and to register a .ZA domain, visit zarc.web.za or explore detailed reports at the ZARC statistics portal.
