Telegram Applies for '.gram' TLD to Enable AI-Generated User Websites
Telegram founder Pavel Durov announced that the company has applied for the ".gram" top-level domain (TLD). If approved, users will be able to claim personalized domains like "username.gram" and generate complete websites using simple AI prompts. This move could allow Telegram to integrate user identities directly with independent web addresses, lowering the barrier to web creation for its massive user base. Additionally, owning its own TLD reduces Telegram's dependency on third-party domain registries, avoiding past disruptions like the temporary suspension of "t.me". The application is subject to ICANN's rigorous evaluation process, meaning approval is not guaranteed, and Telegram has not yet shared technical details or a release timeline for the AI website builder. The initiative follows a July 2026 incident where the ".me" registry placed Telegram's "t.me" domain on "serverHold" status, temporarily breaking redirect links.
## BACKGROUND
ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) coordinates the global Domain Name System (DNS) and manages the New gTLD Program, which allows organizations to apply for new top-level domains. A "serverHold" status is a registry-level domain suspension that stops a domain from resolving, effectively making it inaccessible on the web.