MOSCOW, September 30 (RIA Novosti) - Wales has launched its new regional internet domains .wales and .cymru via its new websites, assembly.wales and synulliad.cymru on Tuesday.
The launch "heralds a new era for Wales in the digital world," the chair of internet domain controller Nominet's Wales advisory group, Ieuan Evans MBE, was quoted as saying by the The Guardian.
"In the next phase of the project, this opportunity will be extended to all businesses and individuals," he added.
Other websites to add the new domain include Wales Online, Daily Post, the Welsh Rugby Union, Golwg360, Bloc, Gwalia, Atlantic PLC, Orchard and Portmerion while all four Welsh political parties are to join at a later date.
"Brand recognition is essential for organizations and businesses to successfully promote their work and interests," Dame Rosemary Butler AM presiding officer of the National Assembly was quoted as saying by The Guardian.
"A .wales/.cymru brand will be an enormous help to Welsh organizations as they strive to make their voice heard around the world," she added.
The new domains will be available to buy in November for businesses and in March 2015 for the wider public. The Welsh domains are a patriotic move mirroring the Scottish .scot domain launched in July.
On September 18, Scotland voted in a referendum regarding its independence from the United Kingdom. After voters decided to stay part of the UK a BBC/ICM poll asked the Welsh population whether or not they wished to secede from the UK and found a mere 3 percent of those polled in support of Welsh independence.
