By Nomaan Penwala
Attending ICANN85 Community Forum at the Jio World Convention Centre was an incredible experience. Located in the heart of Mumbai at Bandra Kurla Complex, the venue is one of the city’s most prestigious convention spaces and the perfect setting for an international gathering of this scale. With world class infrastructure, expansive halls, and thoughtfully designed networking areas, the convention centre easily accommodated hundreds of attendees from across the global internet community. The event itself was extremely well organized, with smooth coordination, engaging sessions, and plenty of opportunities for conversations throughout the day.
Events like ICANN85 play a crucial role in bringing together the global domain name ecosystem. Registries, registrars, DNS experts, policy leaders, and technology providers come together to exchange ideas, discuss policy developments, and explore the future of the internet. For companies operating in this space, these meetings are invaluable as they help strengthen partnerships, uncover new opportunities, and stay closely aligned with developments in domains, compliance, and brand protection.
With registries, registrars, and DNS leaders flying in from across the globe, the event created an energetic and collaborative atmosphere. It was slightly unfortunate that some members of the community were unable to travel due to the ongoing tensions in parts of the Middle East. Even so, the participation and discussions on the ground remained highly engaging and productive.
Over the course of the event, I had the opportunity to meet with several clients, registries, and industry peers. These conversations were insightful and promising, and I am excited about the opportunities that may emerge from them. Looking forward to building stronger relationships and turning these discussions into meaningful partnerships in the months ahead.
One of the most memorable highlights of the week was the fantastic evening hosted by ShortDot Registry. Nearly 200 members of the domain community came together for a Bollywood Night themed celebration. The energy in the room was incredible as colleagues and partners from across the world danced endlessly to Bollywood hits and enjoyed a lively evening together. It was a great reminder that beyond the business discussions, the domain industry also shares a strong sense of community.
This ICANN meeting felt even more special because it took place in Mumbai, my hometown. Mumbai is a city known for its unmatched energy, diversity, and ambition. As India’s financial capital, it brings together business, innovation, and culture in a way few cities can. Welcoming the global internet community to this vibrant city made the experience even more meaningful.
Grateful for the conversations, connections, and new opportunities that ICANN85 created. Looking forward to continuing these discussions and strengthening collaborations across the domain and DNS ecosystem.