RESTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 6, 2018-- VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRSN), a global leader in domain names and internet security, today announced that the third quarter of 2018 closed with approximately 342.4 million domain name registrations across all top-level domains (TLDs), an increase of approximately 2.6 million domain name registrations, or 0.8 percent, compared to the second quarter of 2018.^1,2 Domain name registrations have grown by approximately 11.7 million, or 3.5 percent, year over year.^1,2

The .com and .net TLDs had a combined total of approximately 151.7 million domain name registrations in the domain name base³ at the end of the third quarter of 2018, an increase of approximately 2.0 million domain name registrations, or 1.3 percent, compared to the second quarter of 2018. The .com and .net TLDs had a combined increase of approximately 5.9 million domain name registrations, or 4.0 percent, year over year. As of Sept. 30, 2018, the .com domain name base totaled approximately 137.6 million domain name registrations, while the .net domain name base totaled approximately 14.1 million domain name registrations.

New .com and .net domain name registrations totaled approximately 9.5 million at the end of the third quarter of 2018, compared to 8.9 million domain name registrations at the end of the third quarter of 2017.

Verisign publishes the Domain Name Industry Brief to provide internet users throughout the world with statistical and analytical research and data on the domain name industry. The third quarter 2018 Domain Name Industry Brief, as well as previous reports, can be obtained at Verisign.com/DNIB.

About Verisign

Verisign, a global leader in domain names and internet security, enables internet navigation for many of the world's most recognized domain names and provides protection for websites and enterprises around the world. Verisign ensures the security, stability and resiliency of key internet infrastructure and services, including the .com and .net domains and two of the internet's root servers, as well as performs the root zone maintainer function for the core of the internet's Domain Name System (DNS). To learn more about what it means to be Powered by Verisign, please visit Verisign.com.

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¹ The figure(s) includes domain names in the .tk ccTLD. .tk is a free ccTLD that provides free domain names to individuals and businesses. Revenue is generated by monetizing expired domain names. Domain names no longer in use by the registrant or expired are taken back by the registry and the residual traffic is sold to advertising networks. As such, there are no deleted .tk domain names. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20131216006048/en/Freenom-Closes-3M-Series-Funding#.UxeUGNJDv9s.
² The generic top-level domain (gTLD) and ccTLD data cited in the brief: (i) includes ccTLD Internationalized Domain Names, (ii) is an estimate as of the time the brief was developed and (iii) is subject to change as more complete data is received.
³ The domain name base is the active zone plus the number of domain names that are registered but not configured for use in the respective Top-Level Domain zone file plus the number of domain names that are in a client or server hold status.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181206005959/en/

Source: VeriSign, Inc.

Investor Relations: David Atchley, datchley@verisign.com, 703-948-4643
Media Relations: Deana Alvy, dalvy@verisign.com, 703-948-3800