BY NELIWE NGUBANE
MBABANE – The Eswatini Communications Commission (ESCCOM) is turning the spotlight on the country’s digital identity by encouraging businesses, organisations and individuals to embrace the local .sz domain as part of efforts to strengthen Eswatini’s digital transformation.
The initiative will be among the key issues ESCCOM showcases at the 58th Eswatini International Trade Fair (EITF), which gets underway from 29 August to 6 September 2026 at the Mavuso Sports Centre in Manzini.
Speaking during an interview on Eswatini TV’s Kusile Breakfast Show on 27 August 2026, ESCCOM Manager of Consumer Fair and Communications Officer Fisiwe Vilane said the commission would use the trade fair to educate the public on the importance of adopting the country’s local internet domain.
Vilane said ESCCOM would encourage people to move away from relying solely on international domains such as .com and consider using .sz, which represents Eswatini’s digital identity.
“We have a new initiative around pushing people to move away from using .com to using .co.sz and to actually using .sz,” Vilane said.
She explained that ESCCOM’s team would be available at the trade fair to explain how members of the public can obtain the local domain and why it matters in strengthening Eswatini’s presence in the digital space.
The initiative forms part of ESCCOM’s broader mandate as the country’s communications regulator. The commission licenses and regulates telecommunications providers, broadcasting services, postal operators and courier services, while also serving as the data protection authority and addressing cybersecurity matters.
At EITF 2026, ESCCOM will exhibit under Pavilion Five, alongside institutions under the Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology, including the Royal Science and Technology Park (RSTP), Eswatini Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (EPTC) and the ministry itself.
According to Vilane, the pavilion will provide an opportunity for visitors to engage directly with the institutions and learn more about initiatives shaping Eswatini’s digital future.
She said ESCCOM would also engage consumers about their experiences with communication services, including telecommunications, broadcasting and postal services.
The commission’s participation therefore goes beyond exhibition, positioning the trade fair as a platform for digital education, consumer empowerment and greater awareness of online safety.
With businesses increasingly relying on websites and digital platforms to reach customers, the promotion of .sz seeks to place Eswatini’s identity firmly within the country’s expanding digital economy.
ESCCOM is inviting the public to visit its stand at EITF 2026, where its team will provide information on the .sz domain, data protection, cybersecurity and consumer rights.
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(Courtesy Pic)
