The number of websites with a .be domain name continues to fall, according to statistics from DNS Belgium, the manager of internet addresses.
At the end of December, 1,718,116 internet addresses ending in .be were active – 16,066 fewer than a year earlier. The downward trend that started at the end of 2022 is continuing. The decline has not stopped in the first months of this year either.
"It is easier for companies to maintain an Instagram page than an entire website," said Philip Du Bois, general manager of DNS Belgium, pointing to a general downward trend in the domain name world due to the success of large online platforms, among other things.
The increased controls against fraud also play a role. Thanks to new technology, fewer fraudsters are succeeding in getting a domain name active.
Higher costs
Registering a domain name has also become more expensive. DNS Belgium says it is facing additional costs and therefore raised the wholesale price for a .be address from €4 to €5.50 for a year at the beginning of this year. This is the first price increase since 2016.
DNS Belgium does not sell directly to private individuals and companies. This is done by so-called registrars, who often also offer web hosting and e-mail services.
According to Du Bois, a domain name is still cheap in Belgium compared to other countries. The higher costs are related to increasingly extensive regulations on privacy and cybersecurity. European legislation means that DNS Belgium is considered an essential service provider, he said. "The same requirements apply to us as to Proximus or Telenet. If we go down, that potentially has a major impact on the economy."
With a campaign starting in the autumn, DNS Belgium wants to emphasise the importance of a domain name for companies. "It is becoming increasingly relevant to make entrepreneurs aware that it is better not to put all their eggs in the social media basket. After all, you are then subject to changes from those players and even geopolitical decisions. Your own web address offers independence."
