January 30, 2026, 4:12 pm | Read time: 4 minutes

The .io domain extension was originally designated for the Chagos Archipelago, also known as the British Indian Ocean Territory. However, its use is not restricted to the territory, allowing international companies to adopt the suffix for their websites. Tech companies or start-ups do this particularly often. As a result, the .io domain is now more commonly associated with technology than with its geographic origin.

The Tech Connection of the .io Domain Extension

The domain extension .io is similar to the abbreviation “I/O” used in computer science. This stands for “input/output,” as can be read on the website of the internet service provider Ionos. (“This refers to the communication of a system with a user,” it continues, “or the communication between two systems.”) The IT association is what makes the .io domain extension so popular with tech start-ups.

A closer examination of the site reveals that the .io domain extension is priced higher than many others. For instance, Ionos charges 2.75 euros per month for a 12-month contract term. In comparison, under identical terms, the .net extension would cost only 70 cents, and the .cloud extension would be available for a mere 0.08 cents per month. What accounts for this price difference?

More Expensive and More Sought-After Than Many Other Domains

.io is marketed by registries as an exclusive top-level domain that conveys innovation and progressiveness. The provider United Domains even claims that it has a “clear competitive advantage due to its strong association with the tech industry.” This high demand from the target audience enables providers to command premium prices.

Added to this is the relatively limited availability compared to other domains. The .io extension plays an important role in domain trading due to its above-average resale value, and this is due to its artificial scarcity. Speculators and domain traders buy them in order to first hold them back and then resell them at a higher price.

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Ethical Concerns About Use

Tech association or not, the abbreviation .io still stands for the British overseas territories mentioned above. This association carries certain implications when considering their history.

The USA and Great Britain have been operating a military base on the island of Diego Garcia, part of the Chagos archipelago, since the early 1970s. To this end, the local population was forcibly relocated or simply expelled in the 1960s.

Consequently, the use of the domain extension raises ethical concerns, particularly because the former inhabitants of the area and their descendants continue to experience extreme poverty in some instances. They receive none of the profits generated from the marketing of the .io domain. The Chagos Islands, which once belonged to Mauritius, were separated from the country in 1965. For decades, international calls for compensation and the return of the islands were ignored. However, this may change in the near future.

Why the Future of the .io Domain Extension Is Uncertain

An agreement concluded in 2024 could result in the islands becoming part of Mauritius again. This would mean the end of British territory in the Indian Ocean. According to the news portal “The Register,” the 1.6 million users of .io websites are probably wondering whether this also threatens the associated domain extension. In theory, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) might abolish the country code that has become obsolete, and consequently, the internet addresses ending with it. Yet, this outcome is not guaranteed, exemplified by the continued existence of the .su domain, a holdover from the Soviet Union era. It can still be used today without restriction, both for commercial and private websites.

The German original of this article was published in December 2024.