Internet begins 'historic' introduction of non-Latin script

A historic change for internet users has been launched today, seeing non-Latin characters used for the first time in top-level domains.

The net regulator Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (Icann) has switched on a system which now allows full web addresses to include non-Latin characters.

The first three countries to have their codes changed are: Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

"The Middle-East has an average internet penetration of just over 20 per cent, and shows a big potential for growth," Icann said today.

"Users in the region will now have easier access to the internet, with the ability to use their primary language for the entire domain name."

More than 20 countries have requested approval for international domains from the Icann.