Zadna Announces Inflation-Linked Price Increases for Domain Registrations

The South African Domain Name Authority (Zadna) has announced a 5.23% increase in the wholesale cost of domain name registrations, raising the price from R55 to R61 per domain. This new pricing will take effect on 1 October and will be valid for one year.

Zadna CEO Molehe Wesi explained the rationale behind the price hike, citing a comprehensive financial analysis that considered inflation and foreign exchange rates impacting operational costs. “This decision follows thorough consultations with industry stakeholders and aligns with current economic developments and operational needs,” Wesi stated.

In addition to the price increase, Zadna has introduced policy changes allowing for multiyear registrations and renewals, with options available for up to five years. The traditional annual registration and renewal system will continue alongside this new multiyear option, which is set to be implemented from 1 October.

As the regulatory body overseeing domain names in South Africa, Zadna sets wholesale rates for internet service providers (ISPs), which in turn offer domain registration services to their customers. The process is managed by the South African Central Registry (Zarc), which handles domains including .co.za, .org.za, .net.za, and web.za.

When ISPs or other domain registrants pay the wholesale portion of the Zadna fee to Zarc, Zarc retains a portion of the fee, with the remainder being forwarded to Zadna as the regulatory authority. Zadna operates under the oversight of the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies.

Looking ahead, Zadna’s pricing models project further increases of 6.56% and 6.15% for the 2025/2026 and 2026/2027 periods, respectively. These figures will be confirmed annually in July, based on the prevailing consumer price index, allowing for industry implementation in October each year.

“We encourage all stakeholders to align their communications and timelines with these changes to facilitate a smooth transition,” Wesi added.

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