Contract for Internet domain .ch extended with Switch
The public law contract with the Switch organisation for the management of the .ch internet domain is being extended for a further five years. The new contract includes additional services to further increase the security of the .ch domain and to combat cybercrime more effectively, according to reports.
The Federal Office of Communications (Bakom) extends the existing contract, which expires on December 31, 2021, with Switch for a further five years. Switch will be tasked with managing the national database of .ch domain names until the end of 2026 and ensuring the electronic link with the worldwide domain name system (DNS).
Switzerland lags behind in technical safety standards
In order to further improve the security of .ch domain names and to combat cybercrime more effectively, Bakom has included new requirements in Switch's specifications.
In particular, Bakom wants to accelerate the adoption and implementation of technical security standards by registrars and hosting providers. In this area, Switzerland is at the bottom of the league (e.g. only 6% of registered .ch domain names are signed in accordance with the DNSSEC standard). This should change. For this reason, Bakom supports the introduction of a programme by Switch, with which the registrars and hosting providers are to be encouraged to offer sufficient security guarantees by means of financial incentives.
In addition, the registry operator Switch and the authorities will work more closely together to improve the fight against cybercrime. This includes, for example, measures to ensure that if there is a suspicion of fraudulent intent, newly registered domain names may only be used after an identity check has been carried out. In addition, more preventive measures will be taken to increase security awareness among Internet users. Switch will also be responsible for maintaining the DNS infrastructure of the .ch domain at a high level of security, in particular through encrypted transaction procedures and techniques for DNS queries.
Transfer of the function of registry operator
Addressing elements such as telephone numbers or internet addresses are important resources for Switzerland. The Telecommunications Act entrusts their management to Bakom. However, the law also provides for the possibility of delegating this task to third parties in special cases. Switch has been operating the .ch domain (register operator function) on behalf of the Confederation since 2003.
Following a public tender in 2016, Switch was initially awarded the mandate for five years (2017-2021) with the option of a single extension for a further five years. At the time, Switch had distinguished itself in particular in the area of combating cybercrime, making the .ch domain one of the most secure domains in a European comparison, as Bakom writes. Its function as registry operator does not allow it to sell .ch internet addresses to end customers itself.
Source: Bakom
