Every country has its unique country code top-level domain (ccTLD), and Tanzania is no exception. The .tz is Tanzania’s digital identity and the unique internet address for Tanzanian businesses and organizations.

But who manages this digital identity? Who ensures that when you type a .tz website, it loads correctly? The big guy behind the seamless function of the .tz is tzNIC.

TzNIC guards Tanzania’s online world, ensuring every site has a rightful place and runs smoothly and securely for everyone. This guide walks you through everything you need to know about tzNIC.

What TzNIC?

The Tanzania Network Information Centre (tzNIC) is a non-profit organization established by the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA).

TzNIC’s core function is managing and controlling the Tanzanian country code top-level domain (ccTLD), the  .tz. 

Every country has a ccTLD, usually the two-letter internet suffix assigned to a country. For example:

• There is .tz for Tanzania
• We have .ke for Kenya
• Canada’s ccTLD is .ca
• South Africa has .za
• The UK has .uk

TzNIC also administers all second-level domains with .tz, such as .co.tz for companies, .go.tz for government entities, .ac.tz for academic institutions, and .or.tz for organizations. 

Furthermore, tzNIC maintains the authoritative, master database for all .tz entries in the Domain Name System (DNS), ensuring that every request for a Tanzanian website is accurately routed to its correct server. 

TzNIC ensures the stability of Tanzania’s internet namespace for the benefit of all its citizens.

History of TzNIC

The formation of TzNIC is deeply rooted in the establishment of the .tz domain. The history of the .tz domain began in the early 1990s as a vision of three Tanzanian pioneers: 

• Prof. Beda Mutagahwa
• Bill Sangiwa
• Kitalima Mabula

The three pioneers established the .tz ccTLD with Randy Bush’s technical assistance per international ISO-3166 standards. 

The application to the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) was successful, and by 1994, the .tz domain was officially operational. 

The .tz domain was initially managed by the University of Dar es Salaam’s Computing Centre, with Prof. Beda as director and Randy Bush as the technical contact.

Management remained with the University of Dar es Salaam for over a decade. However, as the internet’s commercial and societal importance evolved, the need for a formal, dedicated, professional governance structure became profound.

To address the gap in professional governance of the .tz domain, a committee was formed in 2005 to establish a reliable .tz operator. As a result, the Tanzania Network Information Centre was formally incorporated on November 16, 2006.

Another significant transition after the formation of TzNIC in 2006 was ICANN’s official approval of the redelegation of the .tz  from the University of Dar es Salaam to TzNIC.

Organizational Structure of TzNIC

While TzNIC manages the .tz domain, it operates under the legal and regulatory framework of the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), which also provides TzNIC with statutory authority. 

The internal structure of TzNIC ensures effective governance and operational efficiency. The hierarchy comprises the tzNIC Members, who are the main governing body.

The Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) then provides strategic guidance and ensures that policies align with the needs of the nation’s internet community. 

Third on the TzNIC hierarchy is the Manager, who performs everyday management. The manager also coordinates a team of specialized officers: a Legal Officer, a Financial Officer assisted by an Accounts Assistant, and a Technical Officer assisted by a Systems Engineer.

Role of TzNIC

Managing the .tz Domain Space

TzNIC’s primary function is to manage and regulate the .tz domain space. This role involves maintaining the technical infrastructure containing the database of all registered .tz domain names and IP addresses.

Furthermore, TzNIC ensures the continuous stability of the DNS root servers for .tz, which maintain access to all Tanzanian websites and email services.

Developing Policies and Setting Standards

TzNIC is also responsible for formulating the rules that govern the .tz and enhance fairness in the .tz domain space. This includes:

• Establishing eligibility criteria for who can register which second-level domain 
• Creating fair practices for domain name registration
• Developing a robust framework for resolving domain disputes

Domain Name Registrar Accreditation

When registering a .tz domain, you can get a domain registrar with Tanzanian accreditation who can assist you directly.

While tzNIC operates the central registry, it works through accredited third-party registrars who act as retail agents. The accredited domain registrars sell and manage domain names for .tz domain owners.

Examples of TzNIC-accredited domain registrars in Tanzania:

• Truehost 
• Kilihost
• Habari Node
• Dudumizi

TzNIC also sets the wholesale price of .tz domains, after which the domain registrars can set their own retail and bundle prices. In addition, TzNIC issues guidelines to ensure that accredited .tz domain registrars operate fairly and competently.

Creating Public Awareness

Another essential responsibility of TzNIC is promoting the benefits of using a .tz domain. TzNIC creates awareness about registration procedures.

TzNIC also issues official notices about any changes to policies, guidelines, or rules governing the .tz namespace that are open to the public.

Importance of the .tz Domain

The establishment of the .tz domain paved the way for the formation of the TzNIC to technically manage the ccTLD. Here’s why .tz is essential:

1. Digital Identity

The .tz is the badge that identifies Tanzanian websites. It creates awareness of legitimately Tanzanian businesses, organizations, and government bodies. 

2.  Local SEO

Search engines like Google use ccTLDs as a signal to determine a website’s geographic relevance. Hence, a .tz domain ranks better for searches conducted within Tanzania, giving local businesses an advantage over those using generic domains.

3. Economic Development

The .tz domain is key to stimulating a digital economy in Tanzania. The ccTLD elevates job creation and innovation to keep the digital world running. 

Responsibilities of Domain Registrars to TzNIC

We have mentioned TzNIC’s key roles towards domain registrars: accrediting them and offering guidance to help them function efficiently. 

Some of the responsibilities of domain registrars to tzNIC are:

1. Strictly adhering to tzNIC policies, rules, and procedures in the .tz domain registration and management.
2. Collecting and submitting accurate and complete registrant data to the tzNIC registry for each domain.
3. Domain registrars are the first point of contact for their customers’ support issues, only escalating critical technical or legal problems to tzNIC.

Final Take on TzNIC

The next time you see a website ending in .tz, you’ll know there’s a whole system working behind the scenes to make that possible.

tzNIC is more than a technical manager; it’s the guardian of the .tz domain. While tzNIC began with a few visionaries, today, it ensures that the .tz domain is stable and secure for Tanzanian businesses, government, and people.

Ready to interact with tzNIC through a .tz domain? You’re not just getting a web address, you’re planting a flag for your local identity, boosting your visibility at home, and helping to grow Tanzania’s digital economy. 

Choose your .tz domain with a TZNIC-accredited and reliable domain registrar with Truehost.