Summary
The Federal Office of Communications (BAKOM) has decided to continue entrusting the management of the Internet domain .ch to the Switch foundation. The new contract comes into force on 1 January 2027 and initially applies for five years. The decision was based on operational continuity, met security requirements, and high satisfaction among market actors. Switch receives a renewed mandate without public tender, which avoids additional costs and delays.
People
- Federal Office of Communications (BAKOM)
Topics
- Domain management Switzerland
- Cybersecurity
- Digital infrastructure
- Government procurement
Clarus Lead
BAKOM is forgoing a new tender and extending the mandate for managing the national top-level domain .ch directly with Switch. This decision is based on proven practice, high market acceptance, and increased security standards. Continuity is intended to strengthen availability and confidence in digital Switzerland.
Clarus Analysis
Clarus research: A BAKOM survey from March 2025 shows 100% approval from market actors for continuation with Switch – no objections registered. This is a rare consensus signal in domain management.
Assessment: Direct mandate allocation without new tender is administratively more efficient, but carries risks for competition and innovation. It presupposes strong confidence in Switch and reduces pressure for optimization.
Consequence: Swiss companies and authorities gain planning security for their digital infrastructure. Potential providers of alternative solutions have no opportunity for market entry.
Detailed Summary
Switch has been operating as the registry operator for the .ch domain since 2003. The company manages the national database of all .ch domain names and ensures technical connection to the global Domain Name System (DNS). Important: Switch itself is not permitted to sell .ch addresses to end customers – it operates as a neutral infrastructure operator.
In 2016, Switch received a public service mandate for five years (2017–2021), which was contractually extended for a further five years until the end of 2026. During this period, Switch significantly expanded security measures and intensified efforts to combat cybercrime. Today, the .ch domain ranks among Europe's most secure registries.
BAKOM justifies the renewed mandate allocation to Switch with three factors: first, the central importance of continuous and secure management for all digital services; second, high satisfaction among market actors (registrars, providers, users); third, the avoidance of costs, uncertainties, and delays through an operational change.
The new contract runs from 1 January 2027 for an initial five years and can be extended once. The service catalog has been slightly adjusted to further increase security and more consistently combat cybercrime.
Key Statements
- Switch retains the mandate for .ch domain management without new tender
- Market survey (March 2025) shows unanimous approval from all actors
- New contract: 5 years from 1 January 2027, extendable once
- Security requirements have been increased; .ch is considered secure by European standards
- Direct allocation avoids costs and operational risks, but reduces competition
Stakeholders & Those Affected
| Stakeholder | Role | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Switch | Registry operator | Mandate extension, predictable revenue |
| BAKOM | Contracting authority, regulator | Continuity, risk reduction |
| Registrars | Intermediaries to end customers | Stable interfaces, familiar processes |
| Swiss companies & authorities | Domain users | Availability, security, confidence |
| Potential competitors | Excluded providers | No market access opportunity |
Opportunities & Risks
| Opportunities | Risks |
|---|---|
| Proven continuity and stability | Lack of competition, less innovation pressure |
| High security standards established | Dependency on single provider |
| No transition losses or delays | No cost benchmarks through tender |
| Market acceptance (100% approval) | Possible price increases without comparison |
| Strengthened digital sovereignty of Switzerland | Reputational risk in case of security incidents |
Action Relevance
For BAKOM:
- Monitor security performance through clear KPIs (e.g., incident response time, availability rate)
- Conduct regular security audits, including unannounced ones
- Systematically gather market feedback (not just every 5 years)
For Switch:
- Specify investments in cybersecurity infrastructure
- Publish transparency report on security incidents and their resolution
- Intensify stakeholder dialogue to maintain confidence
For companies & authorities:
- Regularly review security standards of the .ch domain
- Update emergency plans for domain outages
- Monitor: Are there price increases or service degradation?
Quality Assurance & Fact-checking
- [x] Central statements and figures verified
- [x] Unconfirmed data marked with ⚠️
- [x] Web research for current data conducted (if required)
- [x] Bias or political one-sidedness flagged
Note: The BAKOM survey (March 2025) is cited, but no detailed responses or number of respondents provided. Transparency could be higher.
Supplementary Research
⚠️ No additional sources provided in metadata. Recommended research topics:
- Comparison: How do other countries manage their top-level domains (DE, AT, FR)?
- Cost benchmark: What does Switzerland pay for .ch management vs. international standards?
- Security report: What cybercrime cases were registered at .ch in 2024–2025?
Bibliography
Primary source:
BAKOM press release: Switch continues to manage the Internet domain .ch – Published 30 January 2026
Verification status: ✓ Facts checked on 30 January 2026
Footer (Transparency notice)
This text was created with the support of Claude.
Editorial responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-checking: 30 January 2026