In many cases, agencies are actually the biggest growth driver for hosters. They bring in multiple clients at once, manage websites long term, and often stay loyal to platforms that support their work.

Unfortunately, hosting providers are slowly losing these agencies to modern platforms like WP Engine, Cloudways, Kinsta… These platforms are simply better suited to agency needs.

We talked about this with Vito in the latest episode of our podcast:

The main problem: hosters don’t fully understand agencies

According to Atarim’s own research, over 70 percent of agencies say support is the most important factor when choosing where to host, making it the number one priority for hosters who want to keep their agency customers.

As Vito said in the podcast: “The number two [priority] was client management and agency-related tooling that will enable them to manage multiple accounts at the same time… a reseller and a good affiliate program came in at single digits [!!!]”

This indicates that traditional, outdated hosting tools are not keeping up with industry trends. Offering a low price doesn’t make up for the complexity and hassle agencies have to deal with. Over time, this leads to losing agencies and their clients with them.

How to better understand agencies? Get to know them!

If you want to build stronger relationships with agencies, you have to understand them better. And there’s no better place to do that than the Web Agency Summit, the fifth edition is organized this year by Atarim together with Omnisend.

It’s a 4-day online event packed with sessions, interviews, and panels focused on agency life. The plan is for 15,000 people to attend.

Here are some quick facts from the summit website:

• Over 40 speakers from companies like Google, GoDaddy, and Microsoft
• Free to attend
• Live networking and on-demand replays
• Real talk about tools, workflows, AI, and building strong businesses

If you’re serious about working with agencies, this is the place to start. Not to mention that it is an excellent opportunity to sponsor the event and get visibility of your hosting brand.

And it’s free. Just sign up here: https://atarim.io/summit/

The post Why is the Web Agency Summit important for hosters? appeared first on webhosting.today.

That’s why the recent partnership between DreamHost and bunny.net has caught our attention. It’s not just a matter of adding a new feature. It’s a blueprint for how modern hosting companies can evolve to meet customer expectations, improve performance at scale, and unlock new revenue streams—while staying developer-friendly and future-proof.

Let’s take a closer look at what this partnership means, how it works under the hood, and why bunny.net stood out among CDN providers.

Why CDN became a must-have for WordPress hosting

It wasn’t long ago that CDNs were primarily used by high-traffic sites or enterprise brands. But times have changed.

“CDN has become an expected feature for managed WordPress,” said DreamHost.

Speed isn’t just a competitive advantage—it’s an expectation. And with more websites serving global audiences, latency has become the silent killer of user engagement. Every second counts. A site that loads in 1 second can see a bounce rate of just 7%, compared to 38% for a 5-second load.

For hosting providers like DreamHost, not offering a CDN meant leaving both performance and revenue on the table. That’s why this integration wasn’t just an upgrade—it was a necessity.

“Getting our customers closer to their site visitors makes for snappier sites and happier visitors,” they added. “The fact that we also get to offer this to any DreamHost customer as an add-on was also attractive, giving us another revenue stream as we navigate the current economic climate.”

So the move wasn’t just about serving DreamPress (DreamHost’s managed WordPress product)—it was about redefining their entire value proposition across their customer base.

Why Bunny.net? Performance, philosophy, and partnership

When choosing a CDN partner, DreamHost didn’t just go for raw numbers—they went deeper. Performance mattered, but so did the people and the platform behind the product.

“We evaluated several CDN providers, and Bunny CDN from bunny.net was not only the most performant, but their team had extensive experience with WordPress.”

That’s an important distinction. Many CDN platforms are powerful, but not necessarily friendly to the specific nuances of WordPress. The fact that bunny.net built their integrations around the same WordPress APIs gave DreamHost confidence that the technical alignment would be smooth, stable, and scalable.

And it wasn’t just about code.

“We also found their team to be very responsive and engaging which made us confident that we would have a great working relationship with them—and that has turned out to be the case.”

In a world where support and agility are often afterthoughts, this kind of responsiveness and collaboration is a serious competitive edge.

What does this mean for DreamHost customers?

For users of DreamHost, this partnership unlocks more than just faster loading speeds. It introduces advanced caching, increased reliability, and edge-first performance—without the hassle of configuring third-party tools.

“Moving site visitor activity to the edge allows us to better serve our international customers. This also reduces the workload on our own servers, as customer data will be served across bunny.net’s global network of PoPs.”

That’s the hidden beauty of a CDN. It doesn’t just make your site faster for visitors—it also takes the strain off your hosting infrastructure, allowing for greater efficiency and stability during traffic spikes.

One standout feature is Bunny.net’s Perma-Cache. While traditional CDNs only cache popular content temporarily, BunnyCDN offers a secondary caching layer that ensures content stays cached—even for low-traffic sites.

“If they’re willing to upgrade to the plan that includes Perma-Cache,” DreamHost notes, “Bunny CDN will keep them in cache and ensure that their sites are loading with alacrity whenever those visitors make their appearance.”

This levels the playing field, giving smaller websites the performance advantages typically reserved for the big players.

Frictionless performance for everyone

From bunny.net’s side, the partnership represents more than a technical integration—it’s a strategic move toward broader accessibility.

“Our mission is to help make the internet hop faster,” said the bunny.net team. “Partnering with DreamHost was a perfect match, since they help power a massive number of websites with their services.”

They recognize a key gap in the market: not all users want to sign up for separate services or mess around with complex DNS configurations. By integrating directly into DreamHost’s platform, bunny.net removes the friction and brings enterprise-grade performance to the masses.

“By partnering with DreamHost, we can remove all of the friction and make it easier for them to enjoy the performance, reliability and security benefits we offer—without worry about any additional settings.”

It’s a win-win. DreamHost gets to offer world-class performance natively, and bunny.net gets to serve a broader audience, including non-technical users who simply want their websites to be fast.

Built for scale: performance backed by data

Let’s talk numbers. Bunny.net handles over a million requests per second during peak times and powers millions of domains worldwide.

“Performance is at the core of what we do,” they emphasized. “These benchmarks are not only reserved for DreamHost, but are publicly available through independent benchmarking services like CDNPerf, where bunny.net consistently ranks as one of the fastest CDNs worldwide.”

And it’s not just about speed—it’s about uptime, reliability, and enterprise support.

“For DreamHost, we’ve taken this a step further by implementing Enterprise Support and a 100% uptime SLA,” bunny.net shared. “We established a direct technical and operational communication line that provides them with 24/7 support.”

That kind of infrastructure allows DreamHost to scale confidently, knowing that performance and support are always on.

Hosting reimagined

The partnership between DreamHost and bunny.net shows how CDNs are no longer “add-ons” but essential components of modern web infrastructure. It’s also a case study in how thoughtful integrations—ones that focus on user experience, developer alignment, and scalability—can create real differentiation in a crowded market.

“DreamHost users will get faster page load times, lower latency, and much smoother user experiences for visitors connecting to their websites,” bunny.net concluded. “This will help DreamHost stand out in a very competitive hosting market—and give their users a built-in superpower to do the same.”

And that’s the ultimate goal: not just better performance, but better possibilities.

The post DreamHost and Bunny.net are redefining CDN for WordPress appeared first on webhosting.today.

Strengthening open source with financial support

The WP Community Collective is an initiative that funds and empowers individuals who contribute to WordPress. GoDaddy’s donation will provide financial, operational, and promotional support to community members, ensuring that designers, developers, and other contributors have the resources they need.

According to Paul Bindel, President of Partners at GoDaddy, this investment reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to the WordPress community. “GoDaddy and its employees care deeply about WordPress and support it in many ways, including time and funding” Bindel stated. The company hopes that this donation will help sustain contributions throughout 2025 and beyond.

Additional contributions to open source

Beyond the $500,000 donation, GoDaddy has also supported several other open-source initiatives:

• PHP Coding Standards – A $12,000 donation in 2024 to improve PHP code quality tools.
• PHP Foundation – A $24,000 donation in December 2024 to support PHP development.
• World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) – A $40,000 donation in December 2024 to promote open web standards.
• WP Accessibility Meetup – Sponsorship of live captions for the group’s monthly meetings.
• Five for the Future – Sponsoring 46 contributors across 17 teams, making GoDaddy the second-largest contributor in terms of people and third in pledged hours.

These contributions highlight GoDaddy’s recognition of the importance of open-source software in keeping the internet accessible and functional for everyone.

Investing in WordPress Hosting

In addition to these community-focused efforts, GoDaddy has also redesigned its Managed WordPress Hosting platform with developers in mind. The new platform boasts faster performance, enhanced security, and better site management tools. With improvements such as seamless scaling, containerized services for better isolation, and real-time monitoring, the update aims to provide a smoother experience for WordPress users.

The updated platform serves over 80 billion requests per month and manages more than three petabytes of data, offering up to twice the performance of other WordPress hosting providers. It provides vertical scaling capabilities up to 12 cores, strong isolation with nano-segmentation, and multi-layer security using hardened containers. Additionally, real-time observability features allow users to monitor site health and performance through advanced dashboards, giving them better control over their WordPress environment.

GoDaddy’s financial and technical contributions show a long-term investment in the WordPress ecosystem. By funding contributors and enhancing its own WordPress services, the company is reinforcing its role in the open-source community.

The post GoDaddy donates $500,000 to support the WordPress community appeared first on webhosting.today.

1. CloudFest (March 17-20, 2025) – Rust, Germany

CloudFest is one of the largest events for the web hosting and cloud industries. It brings together hosting companies, cloud providers, and tech leaders to discuss new tools and services. The event focuses on improving website speed, security, and performance. Attendees can explore various conference sessions, hands-on workshops, and networking opportunities with industry leaders.

This event is also known for its vibrant atmosphere, featuring social events and meetups where meaningful business relationships can be formed. Since webhosting.today will be attending, we look forward to actively participating in discussions, exchanging ideas with industry professionals, and showcasing our expertise in web hosting solutions.

2. Web Agency Summit by Atarim & Omnisend (April 7–11, 2025) – Online

This online event is the biggest annual gathering for web agency professionals. It features presentations, panel discussions, and networking sessions on topics like web design, digital marketing, UX, and SEO. Experts from across the industry will share their knowledge on how to scale agencies, improve workflows, and generate better client results. Since the event is virtual, participants can join from anywhere, making it easy to access high-quality sessions from top professionals. If you work with web agencies, this is a must-attend event to learn new strategies and tools that can help boost your business.

3. WordCamp Europe 2025 (June 5-7, 2025) – Basel, Switzerland

WordCamp Europe is the main event for the WordPress community in Europe, attracting developers, designers, content creators, and hosting providers. This event provides an opportunity to stay updated on WordPress advancements, security updates, and emerging best practices. Attendees can engage in workshops, panel discussions, and hands-on sessions led by experienced WordPress professionals. Beyond technical insights, networking opportunities make it an ideal place to form partnerships and collaborate on future projects. Since webhosting.today will be attending, we are excited to take part in discussions, share our experiences with WordPress hosting, and explore innovative solutions to improve WordPress performance and security.

4. Domain Days Dubai (November 2025 – Exact Date TBA) – Dubai, UAE

Domain Days Dubai is an essential event for professionals in the domain and web hosting industry, particularly those looking to expand in the Middle Eastern market. This conference brings together registrars, resellers, hosting providers, and entrepreneurs eager to stay ahead of the latest trends in domain investing, SEO, and hosting innovations. Attendees will gain valuable insights from expert-led discussions on the future of digital assets and have the opportunity to network with key industry players.

Since webhosting.today will be attending, we are excited to engage with local and international professionals, exchange knowledge, and explore new business opportunities tailored for this rapidly growing region.

5. CloudFest USA / NamesCon (November 5-6, 2025) – Miami, Florida

CloudFest USA and NamesCon is a unique event that brings together cloud and domain experts in one space, making it an essential gathering for professionals in the industry. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the latest innovations in cloud hosting, domain trading, and digital infrastructure. The event will feature engaging discussions, product showcases, and exclusive networking sessions where industry leaders share their experiences. Since webhosting.today will be attending, we look forward to exchanging ideas, building connections, and staying ahead of the evolving trends in hosting and domain management.

A year full of opportunities for the web hosting community

The year 2025 is set to be an exciting one for the web hosting industry, with numerous events that inspire, educate, and bring professionals together. These gatherings are more than just conferences; they are places where innovation thrives, partnerships are formed, and the future of web hosting is shaped. Whether you want to stay ahead of industry trends, connect with thought leaders, or explore new business ventures, these events provide the perfect setting to do so. Which of these events are you planning to attend? Let us know!

To see the complete calendar of web hosting events, visit the Events section on our website.

The post TOP 5 web hosting events you should attend in 2025 appeared first on webhosting.today.

The early days: a unified standard

Shared hosting, in its earliest form, was simplicity at its finest. Hosting companies built their offerings around tools like cPanel, Plesk, and DirectAdmin. These solutions worked, they were accessible, and they quickly became the standard for the industry. Even companies with proprietary control panels eventually aligned themselves with these systems, either by design or necessity. This created a sense of consistency that customers came to expect.

But this standard wasn’t built for eternity. It was built for the world of the early 2000s—a time when the web itself was in its infancy. Now, nearly two decades later, the definition of shared hosting is trapped in that era. What was innovative then is archaic now. And yet, we’re still clinging to it.

Stagnation: the lack of integration

From day one, shared hosting has struggled with a fundamental issue: products were built in silos, and no one cared enough to make them work together. Certificates like SSL had to be verified manually through DNS or email, a cumbersome process for any user. Control panels didn’t even include basic tools for website creation. The most essential task—setting up a website—was left to external vendors who had to patch the gaps software/hosting companies ignored.

And while hosting providers started introducing add-ons like SEO tools or SaaS solutions for eCommerce, they were never truly integrated. Everything was separate. You had your hosting account in one place, your SEO tool in another, and your PPC analytics, traffic, performance in yet another. Nothing worked as one coherent solution.

This problem still exists. Shared hosting remains fragmented, disjointed, and overly complex for anyone who isn’t deeply familiar with the industry. Even worse, upgrading to a VPS or cloud solution—a natural progression for many users—is still a nightmare. Migrations require technical expertise, manual work, and often additional costs. It’s a failure of the very companies that were supposed to make things easier.

Why hasn’t shared hosting evolved?

The truth is that hosting companies have made excuses for decades. Evolving shared hosting is “too complicated” from a technical standpoint. Companies license third-party control panels and billing systems, expecting these vendors to drive innovation. But that never happenned. Instead, the products stagnate while hosting companies focus on squeezing more revenue out of customers.

At the same time, many C-level executives in the hosting industry are disconnected from reality. They focus on financial reports and growth metrics but have no idea how their products actually work—or how their customers are using them. The hosting industry has become a machine that prioritizes profit over progress, and it shows.

The first revolution in hosting

I remember the first real shift in hosting. It came with the introduction of 1-click installers for applications like WordPress. Suddenly, customers weren’t just buying hosting—they were buying the ability to build websites quickly and easily. It was revolutionary at the time, but it took years for most hosting companies to recognize this change.

The smartest players in the industry, like WP Engine, capitalized on this shift early. They saw that users wanted more than infrastructure; they wanted solutions. WP Engine built a business around WordPress and catered to its community with laser focus. Their success wasn’t a coincidence. It was the result of understanding what customers needed before anyone else did.

The myth of “websites are dead”

There was a time when people said websites were becoming obsolete. Social media platforms like Facebook and Google Business Profiles seemed to offer everything small businesses needed. Why bother with a website when you could just create a Facebook page or a Google listing?

And yet, here we are, a decade later, and websites are more relevant than ever. Shared hosting survived this period of doubt, but it didn’t thrive. Hosting companies missed the opportunity to adapt their services to meet the needs of modern website owners. Instead, they stood still while the world moved forward.

An industry stuck in time

For nearly 20 years in the hosting industry, I’ve had the persistent impression that while the entire tech world has evolved, hosting companies have stayed the same. They might add more services (because prices can’t be raised endlessly), but they fail to offer something fundamental—a solution, an ecosystem.

The real innovation has come from communities like WordPress, which revolutionized website building and captured the hearts of millions. Meanwhile, hosting companies have done little more than complain that WordPress hasn’t made things “easier.”

But what have hosting providers done to address these issues? Nothing. For years, cPanel, Plesk, and others have offered the same tools with minor tweaks. Even something as basic as website traffic analysis still relies on outdated tools like AWStats. How can a multi-billion-dollar industry not replace a relic like AWStats with something modern and insightful?

Is shared hosting really dying?

A few months ago, I spoke with the CTO of a large hosting group. He told me that shared hosting was dying and that platforms like Wix and Squarespace were the future. I almost laughed.

If shared hosting is dying, why is M&A activity in the hosting industry stronger than ever? Companies are spending hundreds of millions of euros to acquire shared hosting businesses. If this model is truly on its last legs, why is there such a rush to buy into it?

The truth is that shared hosting isn’t dying. It’s just asleep. The hosting industry has become lazy, relying on outdated models and incremental price increases to survive.

Wake up or get left behind

The hosting industry is at a crossroads. Either it wakes up and starts innovating, or it will be left behind by startups that understand the market better.

Customers don’t want fragmented solutions. They want simplicity. They want to manage their website’s performance, traffic, SEO, security, and resource usage in one place. They want tools that work together seamlessly, not a patchwork of disconnected services.

And here’s the hard truth: this isn’t rocket science. Startups with far fewer resources have already begun to deliver these solutions. The only thing stopping hosting companies from doing the same is their own complacency.

The question isn’t whether shared hosting will survive. It will. The question is: who will step up to lead the industry into the future? Because if the hosting giants won’t do it, someone else will. And when that happens, they’ll only have themselves to blame.

The post Is this the end for Shared Hosting? My view appeared first on webhosting.today.

The .eu domain is unique as it operates under a contract with the European Commission, reflecting the broader interests of the European Union. Although this might suggest a complex bureaucratic structure, in practice, the .eu TLD functions similarly to other country code domain names, with a focus on accessibility, security, and stability.

What is the MAG?

The Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) plays a key role in shaping the policies and operations of the .eu TLD. The group is tasked with advising the Commission on several critical areas:

• Implementing the .eu regulation – ensuring that the rules governing the .eu domain are effectively applied.
• Strategic oversight – issuing opinions on the management, organization, and administration of the .eu TLD, with a focus on areas like cybersecurity, data protection, and surplus allocation to internet governance initiatives.
• Registry supervision – monitoring the performance of the .eu registry, including audits and compliance with EU regulations.
• Preventing abuse – recommending best practices to prevent the misuse of domain registrations, including fraudulent and bad-faith registrations.

Who Can Apply?

The Commission is seeking applicants from civil society, business, academia, and other sectors. The group will consist of up to 22 members representing diverse perspectives. These members will either represent a common interest shared by multiple stakeholders or be nominated by organizations and international bodies.

Applicants must demonstrate:

• at least three years of experience in internet governance or related areas, particularly within the domain name system (DNS) ecosystem.
• the ability to represent stakeholder groups in discussions on internet governance.
• proficiency in English, as meetings and documents will be conducted in English.

Appointment and term

Selected members will be appointed for a two-year term, with the possibility of renewal up to three times. The European Commission’s Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT) will handle the selection and strive for geographical and gender balance in appointments.

While participation in the MAG is unpaid, the Commission will reimburse travel and subsistence expenses in line with its policies.

Why join the MAG?

Joining the .EU Multistakeholder Advisory Group provides a unique opportunity to shape the future of one of Europe’s key digital assets. By participating, members will influence how the .eu domain evolves to meet the needs of businesses, civil society, and individual users across the European Union.

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Despite the rise of AI and social media, hosting services remain the backbone of any website. Hosting is not just about storing your website files; it’s about ensuring your site is accessible, secure, and performs well under any circumstances. Hosting is like having a secure foundation for your digital storefront. Without proper hosting, even the best-designed website won’t reach its audience effectively.

AI enhancing hosting services

GoDaddy has introduced a tool called Airo, which uses artificial intelligence not just for building websites but also for optimizing hosting performance. Airo helps automate tasks like resource allocation, load balancing, and security checks, which are crucial for maintaining a stable and fast website. This makes it easier for hosting professionals to manage multiple sites without manual intervention. They competitors, like Squarespace and Wix, also offer hosting services, often bundled with their website builders but they use a AI only for website builder.

Security on steroids

Security in hosting has evolved significantly, now resembling ‘security on steroids’ with the help of AI. Many modern applications that support hosting and server security, such as BitNinja and Immunify, use AI to enhance protection. These tools help automate security tasks like detecting vulnerabilities, blocking malicious attacks, and optimizing server defenses.

Using AI for security means that hosting providers can stay one step ahead of cyber threats. BitNinja and Immunify are great examples of how AI can be leveraged to keep servers safe. They continuously learn from past attacks and adapt defenses accordingly, making security smarter and more robust. This proactive, AI-powered approach helps businesses keep their websites secure, maintain customer trust, and focus on growth rather than worrying about potential security breaches.

Customer support by AI

AI is transforming customer support in the hosting industry, making it more efficient and accessible. AI-powered chatbots are now commonly used to provide instant responses to customer inquiries, helping users solve issues without the need to wait for a human representative. These chatbots can handle common questions about hosting plans, troubleshoot basic issues, and even guide customers through tasks like setting up a new website or changing server settings.

For more complex support needs, AI assists in automating ticket handling. Tools like AI-driven ticketing systems can categorize, prioritize, and assign support tickets to the appropriate teams, reducing response times and ensuring that customer issues are addressed promptly. This automation not only speeds up the support process but also helps hosting professionals focus on more critical customer needs.

AI is also enhancing call center support. Virtual assistants powered by AI can help filter customer calls, providing initial support and gathering relevant information before transferring the call to a human agent. This ensures that customers are directed to the right department and that agents have all the necessary information to resolve issues more efficiently.

AI does not threaten hosting. Instead, AI complements it perfectly.

As AI continues to evolve, the hosting industry is also changing. AI is making hosting more efficient, secure, and user-friendly. AI-powered automation helps streamline backend processes, allowing hosting professionals to focus on strategic tasks rather than day-to-day maintenance.

AI’s impact on the industry is significant. A survey conducted by WHD Event revealed that AI was the most frequently mentioned factor expected to affect businesses. Christian Jaeger highlights AI’s potential in automating tasks, improving customer service, and addressing the shortage of skilled labor in the industry. He mentions companies already using AI to automate ticket responses and customer requests.

Jaeger believes that AI will play a vital role in the industry’s future. As he aptly puts it, “It’s very interesting and exciting times to see that.” The growing influence of AI and the ongoing consolidation underscore the need for innovation and strategic vision. Hosting is not just a technical necessity; it is key to building a successful and resilient online presence. AI complements it perfectly, making hosting services smarter, more efficient, and more responsive to customer needs. By integrating AI into areas like customer support, security, and performance optimization, hosting providers can deliver better experiences and ensure that their clients’ websites are reliable, secure, and always available. 

The post Why webhosting still matters in the age of AI appeared first on webhosting.today.

This year also introduces a new U.S.-based management team led by Rebecca Sausner, alongside a familiar face, Soeren von Varchmin, now acting as Content Advisor. Their leadership promises to ensure top-tier speakers, engaging panels, and quality networking opportunities.

For early registrants, tickets are available at discounted rates until March 28, 2025. A Standard Pass, priced at $299, provides access to all sessions, keynotes, the exhibition area, live auctions, and networking events with industry leaders from around the world.

NamesCon’s return to Florida is a full-circle moment, as Miami was home to the first major domain conference in 2004. With its deep ties to domain investments and emerging tech sectors like Web3 and AI, Miami is set to provide an inspiring backdrop for the event.

A look back at NamesCon Global 2024

The 2024 edition of NamesCon was a remarkable success, showcasing the scale and impact of the domain industry:

• 550+ domainers attended.
• 510+ investors joined the event.
• attendees represented over 70 nationalities, making it a truly global gathering.
• the conference featured 35+ expert sessions covering key industry topics.
• spread over 4 days, the event offered countless networking opportunities and insights.

With such impressive numbers, NamesCon 2025 is set to build on this strong foundation and deliver an even bigger and better experience in Miami.

The post NamesCon Global 2025: announced in Miami! appeared first on webhosting.today.

The new experiment will involve installing a high-speed communication channel alongside the server. The server is expected to be insulated with weather-resistant equipment to protect against extreme cold, and the system will include backup power supplies. RUVDS aims to provide an uninterruptible, high-speed communication channel that will allow any user to access what they are calling the ‘Antarctic data center.’ The company is currently considering options for delivering the equipment, including by transport plane or ship.

Antarctic mission builds on arctic success

Nikita Tsaplin, CEO of RUVDS, emphasized that the Antarctic mission builds upon their earlier experiment at the North Pole, where they successfully launched a server connected to the firm’s satellite. “Antarctica, as a region with much more complex logistics and conditions, allows us to continue research at a new level,” Tsaplin said. The goal is not only to test communication capabilities but also to explore the possibility of commercial use for the server.

In their earlier Arctic mission, RUVDS deployed a server at the Barneo Ice Camp—a Swiss-operated drift station on the frozen Arctic Ocean. The server was dropped by an Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft and connected to RUVDS’ satellite, which was launched in 2023. Unfortunately, the Arctic experiment ended earlier than expected due to a crack in the ice that necessitated an emergency evacuation. Despite this, RUVDS sees these initiatives as crucial steps in understanding the challenges of operating data infrastructure in extreme environments.

The post Russian hosting company RUVDS to deliver server to the South Pole appeared first on webhosting.today.

Current trends in the industry

The domain and hosting industry in the Middle East is experiencing significant growth. Munir points out that “we are serving 30,000 clients” and “we pride ourselves on being one of the top providers in the region.” This growth is driven by several key trends.

One of the main trends is the increased demand for local services. More businesses in the region prefer local hosting providers for data security and support. As Munir states, “so yeah, we do local hosting that was one of our main advantages. If you say why would I buy from a server why not just buy from provider X in the US – well you know people want local support they want sometimes they want their data to be within the country. So they’ve been different trends in the market and people would follow them but I always wanted to be unique and offer something unique. I think in 2015 or 14 we launched our first server here in Dubai and we did local hosting” This trend highlights the importance of having a local presence in a global market.

Another noticeable trend is the shift towards country code top-level domains (ccTLDs). Local businesses are recognizing that “a local domain name like a ccTLD can rank higher in Google.” This trend reflects a growing understanding of the benefits of local visibility in online searches.

Additionally, the rise of e-commerce in the region is significantly impacting the hosting industry. Munir notes that “the e-commerce penetration was very low” in the past, but the landscape has changed dramatically. More companies are now seeking reliable hosting services to support their online stores.

Changes in consumer behavior

Consumer behavior is evolving alongside these trends. Customers are increasingly looking for transparency and quality service. Munir emphasizes the importance of “honesty, transparency, and just working your way up” in building customer relationships. As businesses compete for attention, providing excellent customer service becomes crucial.

Moreover, the Middle Eastern market has a unique culture that affects how businesses operate. Munir explains that before doing business, highlighting the significance of personal relationships in the region: “Absolutely ,so yeah things are definitely different in the Middle East and you got to live here for many years. Uh to understand it be it the language be it you know the cultural aspect or the way you know you would deal the hospitality the service, um yeah so one of the things I mentioned was about this the culture of trust especially online – when you don’t see the person you don’t shake hand with the person physically then there is no trust, so people would really demand a meeting.”. This cultural aspect presents both an opportunity and a challenge for companies trying to establish themselves.

Future challenges for local companies

Despite the positive trends, local companies face several challenges. As the market grows, competition increases. Munir acknowledges that “I welcome more competition for AEServer” because it pushes companies to improve their services. However, this also means that companies need to differentiate themselves to attract and retain customers.

Keeping up with rapid technological changes is also essential. Companies must invest in the latest technologies to stay relevant. Munir mentions that “technology came very early into Dubai” and that businesses need to adapt quickly to meet consumer expectations.

Lastly, the regulatory environment can be challenging for local businesses. As Munir describes, “Anyway here’s my address delivered to me like bundle it was like a brochure and inside it it said you’re invited to a public consultation session to the relaunch of theae namespace, because there’s like a reform happening in the country. Basically there’s the new Ministry of Communications is called Telecommunications Regulatory Authority – now it’s called TDRA Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority. So this was a new Government Federal body which was formed and and then they basically split the domain names from the ISP, because there was a new ISP coming into town and then they basically took over the domain names they transferred all the domain names and they wanted to invite all the parties who were related to the space” that changed the way domain registrations were handled. Companies must navigate these changes to remain compliant while continuing to serve their clients effectively.

The future of the domain and hosting industry in the Middle East looks promising, but it is not without its challenges. As Munir Badr highlighted, understanding local needs, maintaining high service standards, and embracing technological advancements are critical for success. The region’s unique culture and growing demand for local services present opportunities for companies willing to adapt.

In my opinion, the key to thriving in this evolving market is a focus on building strong relationships and continuously improving services. The insights shared by Munir in the podcast provide valuable guidance for anyone looking to understand the dynamics of the domain and hosting industry in the Middle East.

For more insights, listen to the full podcast here:

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