Understanding the .BO Top-Level Domain

The .bo top-level domain (TLD) is the country code TLD of Bolivia, a South American nation with over 12 million people as of 2021. It’s not merely a domain extension, but a digital identifier of businesses and individuals operating in the country.

This article covers everything you need to know about .bo TLD, from the popular second-level domains (SLDs) to the requirements for registration.

What Does .BO Top-Level Domain Represent?

The .bo TLD typically indicates the website is linked with the country of Bolivia as .bo is the official country code. It’s often used with SLDs to represent a link with the country.

Local and foreign entities like businesses, non-profit organizations, and individuals use the .bo TLD and SLDs.
The official registry of .bo domain is Network Information Center (NIC) Bolivia, whereas the domains are administered by the Agency for the Development of Information Security (ADSIB).

Timeline of Key Developments of the .BO TLD

The Internet landscape in Bolivia has expanded greatly in the last two decades and the .bo domain has been a key part of that journey. Here are the critical milestones of .bo and NIC Bolivia.

What Extensions Can Be Registered in Bolivia, and What Are the Requirements?

The .bo TLDs and SLDs can be registered by any legal person or organization in Bolivia or abroad. There’s no residency or local address requirement to register a .bo domain. However, there are a few exceptions, as some .bo SLDs are reserved for specific organizations or institutes in Bolivia only.

Restricted third-level domains

The SLDs .mil.bo, .int.bo, gob.bo, and .edu.bo are restricted and can only be registered after satisfying each requirement. These SLDs are dedicated to certain institutes of the country. You must provide specific documentation to register a domain with these restricted extensions.

To register restricted extensions, here are the general requirements:

• Request letter from the organization's highest authority or department addressed to the Executive Director of ADSIB.

• Identification document of the legal representation of the requesting party. .

• Identification of the person signing the request.

Here are the restricted .bo SLDs:

• .mil.bo: This extension is only for the Armed Forces of Bolivia branches.

• .gob.bo: This extension is only for national, departmental, and municipal government entities in Bolivia.

• .int.bo: This extension is granted to consulates and embassies of Bolivia in other countries.

• .edu.bo: This extension is only granted to educational institutes in Bolivia. In addition to the general requirements, a copy of the authorization from Ministerial Resolution is required.

Third-level domains

Besides the restricted domains, third-level domains can be registered by anyone. These include:

• .com.bo

• .net.bo

• .org.bo

• .tv.bo

• .web.bo

Social Third-Level Domain

This category of .bo domains are also available to any individual or business in or outside Bolivia.

• .academia.bo

• .agro.bo

• .arte.bo

• .blog.bo

• .bolivia.bo

• .ciencia.bo

• .cooperativa.bo

• .democracia.bo

• .deporte.bo

• .ecologia.bo

• .economia.bo

• .empressa.bo

• .indigena.bo

• .industria.bo

• .info.bo

• .medicinia.bo

• .music.bo

• .natural.bo

• .nombre.bo

• .noticias.bo

• .patria.bo

• .politicio.bo

• .professional.bo

• .plurinacional.bo

• .pueblo.bo

• .revista.bo

• .salud.bo

• .tecnologia.bo

• .tksat.bo

• .transporte.bo

• .wiki.bo

What Can Be Registered as a Domain Under .BO TLD?

The .bo domain extensions must follow the rules set by ADSIB in Bolivia. Here are the general rules for what can be included in the domain name with a .bo TLD:

• The domain name can include Latin alphabets, digits, and hyphens.

• Hyphens can’t be used as the first or last place of the name.

• The minimum length of the domain name is 3 characters, whereas the maximum length is 63 characters.

• Special characters can also be used in the domain name, including  á, é, í, ó, ú, ü, and ñ, which are commonly used in Spanish. (In IDNs the total length must be 63 or less included ACE-encoded versions of these special characters, which means the number of characters available for IDNs are less).

Who Can Register .BO TLD?

The TLD .bo and many other SLDs like .com.bo, .net.bo, and .org.bo can be registered by any entity (person or company) in Bolivia or abroad. As mentioned earlier, only a handful of SLDs have special requirements (.mil.bo, .gob.bo, .int.bo, and .edu.bo).

To register a .bo domain, you need to add the information for the domain owner/administrator, which typically includes full name, email address, contact number, country, and city name.

What Are Some of the Most Popular .BO SLDs?

The most popular .bo SLDs include .com.bo, .net.bo, .org.bo, .tv.bo, and .edu.bo.

How Many .BO Domains Are Registered and Active?

As of Auguest 2023, a total of 12,939 .bo domains have been registered. Here are the registration numbers since 2007:

Why Register a .BO Domain in Bolivia?

A .bo domain can be beneficial in various ways for individuals and companies doing business in Bolivia. Here’s why you should consider getting a .bo TLD:

• Indicate presence in Bolivia: The .bo domain can indicate that the website is based in Bolivia. Whether you're based in Bolivia or not, it can be a viable way to localize your brand name. Even international companies expanding to this South American country can take advantage of a .bo domain name and show a link with the country.

• High availability: As Bolivia is a relatively smaller country on the continent, many domain names that end with a .bo extension are still available. So if you can’t find a domain name with the common .com extension, you may find it available with a .bo extension.

• Easy registration: There are no complex requirements for most .bo extensions, which means anyone anywhere can easily register online.

• Cheap prices: As .bo domains are readily available, you can easily find one that’s easy on the pocket and renew it every year at an affordable rate.

Conclusion

The .bo domain extension is an important part of the online Bolivian identity, representing a connection with a country. Since the first registration of a .bo domain, the number has been consistently growing. You can easily register a .bo domain in a matter of minutes.

If you’re based in Bolivia or are targeting the Bolivian market, a .bo domain name is the best choice.