Russian domain market increased 60%

The number of .RU domain names reached 718,000 in 2006 and the market scores 375 mln rubles (abt USD 14,5 mln) against 220 mln rubles in 2005, according to the major registrator Ru-Center. The segment of domain resale arises, too: cybersquatters got 8% market share in 2006. Last year growth is the highest result that .RU has ever shown. That's because of natural growth of Internet spread in Russia, experts say. According to ROMIR Monitoring Russian web population reached 24 mln at the end of 2006.