Domain name registry Nominet has launched a consultation on proposals to launch a new .uk top-level domain name  aimed at businesses.

Nominet proposes that businesses registering the .uk domain name would receive a range of services including malware monitoring, a visible ‘trust mark’ signalling that their website is secure and mandatory DNS SEC signing, which which it says adds a ‘digital signature’ to a domain and reduces the risk of being hijacked.

In the consultation proposal, Nominet says that the new service, direct.uk, will “meet the needs of those businesses that wish to have an online presence which demonstrates their commitment to online security and trust.”

Businesses applying for a .uk domain will need to verify that they are based in the UK.

In the consultation proposal, Nominet says that the new service, direct.uk, will “meet the needs of those businesses that wish to have an online presence which demonstrates their commitment to online security and trust.”

Businesses that already have .co.uk domains will not be required to change to a .uk address. Eleanor Bradley, director of operations at Nominet, said that new service was about offering a greater choice.

“If you’re using a .co.uk name there would be no requirement to change,” she said. “It’s a much different product we’re talking about, but if you wanted to, it’s something that you could look to do, either immediately or over time.”

Nominet says the proposed new features could help create a more secure home for British businesses and would help to guard against cyber crime.

Although no date has been given for when businesses would be able to sign up for a .uk domain if the proposal goes ahead, a Nominet spoleswoman told Information Age it could be “sometime toward the end of next year”.

“The .uk domain would be sold in the normal way through registrants,” the spokeswoman said. “We are consulting on whether we should require registrars to sign up to sell this particular product because it has more fact checking and verifications involved than a .co.uk, therefore, they would have to opt-in."

The non-profit body, which is accepting feedback from businesses registrars, Internet users, public authorities, civil society groups and consumer organisations until January 7, said it launched the consultation because of the far-reaching implications involved in launching a domain.

“We recognise that a well-managed process of consultation and a set of policies that underpin a new service are essential to ensure its success,” Nominet said.