June 16, 2008 08:00 ET

In First Quarter of 2008, Internet Keeps Pace With Quarterly Growth Rate Set in 2007

Q1 Report Spotlights Continued Global Domain Name Growth; ccTLDs Reflect Importance of Emerging Regions, Including India With 41 Million Internet Users

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA--(Marketwire - June 16, 2008) - In the first three months of 2008, the growth of the Internet remained steady as it added 14 million new domain names according to the first quarter 2008 Domain Name Industry Brief published by VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRSN), the trusted provider of Internet infrastructure services for the networked world.

The close of the first quarter saw a total base of more than 162 million domain name registrations worldwide across all of the Top Level Domain Names (TLDs). This represents a 26 percent increase over the same quarter last year, and 6 percent growth over the fourth quarter of 2007. That pace of quarterly growth is about the same as the average quarterly growth rate from 2007.

VeriSign met this steady growth in domain name registrations by continuing to operate the infrastructures that allow users to register domain names, access Web sites, send emails and conduct commerce and communications. During the quarter, VeriSign processed a peak of more than 50 billion Domain Name System (DNS) queries per day, with each query representing an instance of an Internet user accessing a Web site or sending email. As it has for the past decade, VeriSign DNS continued to maintain 100 percent operational accuracy and stability during the first quarter of 2008.

The latest VeriSign Domain Name Industry Brief also highlights the importance of India. With more than 41 million Internet users, India ranks as the eighth largest Internet population in the world. Yet, with such a large population, the number of Internet users represents only about four percent of the population.(1) As the number of Internet users continues to grow and Internet adoption increases, India is emerging as an increasingly important country for domain names.

"Rapidly emerging regions like India underscore the importance of ensuring that the Internet infrastructure is able to serve every corner of the world," said Raynor Dahlquist, senior vice president of Naming Services at VeriSign. VeriSign is bringing the Internet infrastructure closer to users by opening a new Regional Internet Resolution Site (RIRS) in India. "This requires investment and expertise to anticipate and meet the demands of both established Internet populations and those that are experiencing vigorous growth. Under Project Titan, VeriSign's infrastructure expansion strategy ensures that the infrastructure needed for countries like India to provide a stable experience for online users is made available on a local level."

VeriSign publishes the Domain Name Industry Brief to provide Internet users throughout the world with significant statistical and analytical research and data on the domain name industry and the Internet as a whole. Copies of the 2008 first quarter Domain Name Industry Brief, as well as previous reports, can be obtained at www.verisign.com/domainbrief.

About VeriSign

VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRSN) is the trusted provider of Internet infrastructure services for the networked world. Billions of times each day, VeriSign helps companies and consumers all over the world engage in communications and commerce with confidence. Additional news and information about the company is available at www.verisign.com.

Statements in this announcement other than historical data and information constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause VeriSign's actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, the uncertainty of future revenue and profitability and potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results due to such factors as the inability of VeriSign to successfully develop and market new products and services and customer acceptance of any new products or services, including VeriSign Domain Name Services and other infrastructure offerings; the possibility that VeriSign's announced new services may not result in additional customers, profits or revenues; and increased competition and pricing pressures. More information about potential factors that could affect the company's business and financial results is included in VeriSign's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. VeriSign undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release.

©2008 VeriSign, Inc. All rights reserved. VeriSign, the VeriSign logo, the checkmark circle, and other trademarks, service marks, and designs are registered or unregistered trademarks of VeriSign, Inc., and its subsidiaries in the United States and in foreign countries. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Editor's Note

(1) India Online, eMarketer, September 2007.