DENPASAR — Bali Governor Wayan Koster has officially launched the second-level domain bali.id during an event held at Gedung Ksirarnawa, Taman Werdhi Budaya – Art Centre, Denpasar, on Thursday (11/12). The launch marks a strategic step in strengthening Bali’s digital identity and establishing the island’s presence in the global digital landscape.
The ceremony was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Communications and Informatics (Komdigi), Udayana University leadership, PANDI officials, academics, IT practitioners, creative industry players, media, digital communities, Balinese language advocates, and other invited guests.
In his remarks, Governor Koster emphasized that bali.id is more than just a new domain—it serves as a modern yet culturally rooted representation of Bali’s branding.
“The launch of bali.id is a concrete expression of Bali’s cultural sovereignty in the digital world,” he said.
The initiative aligns with the vision of Nangun Sat Kerthi Loka Bali and supports the six priority development sectors of Bali for 2025–2030, particularly Creative and Digital Economy initiatives and the Bali Digital Island program. The bali.id domain is expected to become a platform for MSMEs, traditional villages, young talents, academics, and creative industry players to showcase Balinese identity and creativity globally while remaining grounded in local wisdom.
Governor Koster also highlighted the significance of integrating Balinese script (Aksara Bali) into the domain system, stating:
“Balinese script will no longer be known only in Bali—it can now appear across the global digital space.”
During the event, the Governor announced the next major step: initiating the registration process for the geographic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) .BALI with ICANN.
The Provincial Government of Bali and PANDI have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as the first stage. If approved, .BALI would place Bali alongside other world cities and regions with geographic domains, such as .tokyo, .paris, and .nyc, solidifying Bali’s international digital identity.
He concluded by urging all Balinese people to take full advantage of bali.id as a powerful tool for transformation, collaboration, and expanding the reach of Balinese culture and creativity.
The launch of bali.id is positioned as a significant milestone in Bali’s digital transformation—one rooted in culture, driving economic progress, and preparing the island for a technologically advanced future.
Academic and Institutional Support
Representing the Rector of Udayana University, Head of LPPM I Nyoman Suarsana expressed strong support for the launch of bali.id. He emphasized that Balinese script is the first script in Indonesia to gain official digital recognition, a major achievement reinforcing Bali’s position in both culture and technology.
Universitas Udayana, he added, is committed to supporting research and development related to the domain to ensure its optimal use and to strengthen academic collaboration in addressing the needs of Balinese society through digital innovation.
PANDI’s Commitment
PANDI Chairman John T. Simanjuntak stated that PANDI, as the registry for the .id domain, is proud to present the launch of bali.id to the people of Bali. He described the domain as a bridge between technological progress and cultural preservation—a digital space where Balinese culture can live and evolve.
“This second-level domain is the realization of our collaboration with the Provincial Government of Bali. Through bali.id, we aim to create an official digital space uniquely rooted in Balinese identity, complete with Balinese script,” he said.
He also noted that the launch strengthens efforts to promote Balinese culture globally and enhances Bali’s position in the international internet ecosystem.
PANDI will continue supporting the massive adoption of Balinese script, including encouraging its use in schools and advocating for its standardization in Unicode to expand its global reach.
With the launch of bali.id, supported by local government, academia, and PANDI, Bali enters a new era of digital transformation—one that is culturally grounded, collaborative, innovative, and globally competitive.***
