ICANN Selects France Telecom As .COM, .NET, .ORG Domain Name Registrar

Business Wire, April 21, 1999

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 21, 1999--

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) announced today that it has selected France Telecom, via its subsidiary Oleane, as one of five test registrars for .com, .net and .org domain names. France Telecom is the only worldwide telecommunications carrier selected for the testbed phase.

This decision follows the opening of an accreditation process by ICANN on March 11, which attracted several dozen candidates, including France Telecom Oleane. Created in 1989 by Jean-Michel Planche, Oleane is now a subsidiary of France Telecom in charge of Internet solutions and services for corporate customers.

ICANN's decision was announced by Chairperson Esther Dyson in the presence of the U.S. federal administration. Upon this occasion, Jean-Jacques Damlamian, Group Executive Vice President Development Division, France Telecom, declared: "We are extremely pleased with this selection which rewards both our active involvement in the Internet governance process and our international development strategy in the area of the Internet. France Telecom is now a European Internet leader, given the number and diversity of its access, hosting and transport services for businesses and consumers."

With operations in more than 50 countries and 24.6 billion euros in 1998 revenues, France Telecom is one of the world's leading telecom carriers. It provides businesses and consumers with a full range of services, including local, long-distance and international telephony, as well as data, wireless, Internet, cable-TV and value-added services. France Telecom is listed on the Paris Bourse and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: FTE).