Universal Acceptance is the principle ensuring that all domain names and email addresses on the web are recognized and used correctly, regardless of language or length.
The event will take place next Friday, the 28th, at the Faculty of Audiovisual Communication on the Elviña campus starting at 10:00 AM, with the option to attend remotely for those who register using the registration form.
Organized in collaboration with ICANN, the session also involves the Professional College of Computer Engineering of Galicia and the Official College of Telecommunication Engineers.
A Coruña, March 20, 2025 · PuntoGal, the entity managing the Galician domain on the web, together with ICANN, the international coordinator of domain names and IP addresses, organizes an event on Universal Acceptance (UA), the principle ensuring that all domain names and email addresses on the internet are recognized and correctly used in all online systems and applications, regardless of language or length. The session, also supported by the professional colleges of Telecommunications Engineering and Computer Engineering of Galicia, will take place next Friday, the 28th, starting at 10 AM in the auditorium of the Faculty of Audiovisual Communication in A Coruña, located at the Elviña Campus of UDC.
Registration, which must be done through the form at i.gal/ua25, allows attendance in person or remote participation via a link sent to registered participants shortly before the event begins.
As highlighted by PuntoGal’s CEO, Darío Janeiro, Universal Acceptance “promotes an inclusive and accessible internet for all people, regardless of their language or geographic region.” Hence its relevance “in a globalized world where businesses, organizations, and internet users come from diverse cultures and languages.” “Without UA, many of these individuals and entities would encounter barriers when registering domains or using email in local languages,” he warns, pointing out that full adoption of this principle is still “a challenge,” as many applications and web platforms need to update their systems to recognize and properly support all possible domain names and email addresses.
“We live in a multilingual world with millions of speakers communicating in their local languages. ICANN and its community work to enable these individuals to navigate the internet and communicate effectively online, enabling domains and emails in local languages. However, even though it’s possible to have these domains and emails in different languages, application software doesn’t always support them, hindering the digital inclusion of these users and communities. The concept of UA aims to make this possible, regardless of geographical location or language used, which also brings economic and social benefits by allowing these users and communities to access and connect with businesses and sustain their cultural traditions,” explains Theresa Swinehart, Senior Vice President of Global Domains and Strategy at ICANN.
Aware of the challenge posed by fully implementing UA for the digital inclusion of individuals and communities, ICANN and PuntoGal are promoting this event for the second time in Galicia – following last year’s edition in Vigo – aimed at raising awareness and addressing practical doubts. The event on the upcoming Friday coincides with the global UA day promoted by ICANN through the UA Steering Group, with around thirty actions to spread the importance of this concept in places such as the United States, various African countries, the Middle East, Latin America, China, the Philippines, as well as A Coruña and Portugal.
Program
The event, starting at 10 AM in the auditorium of the Faculty of Audiovisual Communication and extending until 2 PM, will begin with a speech by PuntoGal’s Vice President, Camilo Regueiro, and will feature the presence of the Presidents of the Colleges of Telecommunication Engineers of Galicia, Julio Sánchez Agrelo, and Computer Engineering of Galicia, Fernando Suárez Lorenzo. There will also be a representation from the University of A Coruña. Following this, Geraldo Ferreira, Technical Manager of UA and Internationalized Domain Names programs at ICANN, will participate. Subsequently, the writer Xavier Alcalá, Ph.D. in Computer Science and Telecommunication Engineer, will give a presentation.
After the coffee break, scheduled for 11:45 AM, Iván Luis Vázquez, board member of the Governing Council of the Professional College of Computer Engineering, will speak, followed by Edita de Lorenzo, professor at the University of Vigo and secretary of PuntoGal’s board.
About PuntoGal
PuntoGal has been managing the Galician domain since 2014. Established in 2006, it operates primarily in three areas: domain management, representing Galicia in international network management organizations, and corporate actions supporting initiatives in technology, networks, language, and culture. As of today, there are approximately 7,300 .gal domains registered.
About ICANN
ICANN stands for Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. It is a non-profit, multilateral organization that oversees the allocation of domains and IP addresses worldwide, dedicated to preserving the stability of the Internet through consensus-based processes.