Why should my South African business register a .com domain name?

A .com domain gives your brand instant global credibility, opens up international markets outside of South Africa, and protects your brand name from being registered by overseas competitors.

Can I own both a .co.za and a .com domain for my business?

Yes, many South African businesses register both. You can use your .co.za for your primary local operations while pointing your .com domain to the same website or an international landing page.

How do I manage my .com domain registration with Starcom?

Starcom allows you to easily search, register, and manage your global .com domains directly alongside your web hosting, business email, and local .co.za extensions from your client control panel.

Does a .com domain extension affect my website's local South African SEO?

A .com domain can rank well in South Africa as long as your website targets local keywords and your hosting server location is optimized, though Google's Search Console allows you to target a specific country market regardless of your TLD.

Domain Name Hosting Services

Domain name hosting services is an important part of getting your business online. You need a domain name for your website and personalised email addresses. You also need hosting to store your website files and keep your site available online. Hosting also provides the facility for of your company or brand personalised email addresses.

The first step is to choose a domain name. This could be your company name, such as johnplumber.co.za. You may also find a shorter domain that matches the service you provide. Finding a services domain instead of a company name will help you rank on Google .

Once you have your domain, you need a hosting account. This gives you space for your website and email. At Starcom, we offer domain name hosting services for businesses and individuals. We are currently offering a free domain when paying for the service for a year , upfront . Opt for the yearly Domain Name Hosting Services and get a reduced fee as well as a free domain.

What Is Included With Domain name Hosting service?

Our domain hosting packages include space for your website and personalised email addresses. For example, you can use an address such as info@plumbers.co.za instead of a free email account.

You can create unlimited email addresses. However, the storage available depends on the hosting package you choose. Your website and email share the storage included with your account, so choose a package that suits your needs. The 1gb hosting package is currently the best value for service , that we offer , however you can also get larger packages that are of good value .

The packages also include several useful features:

* Unlimited subdomains
* Unlimited MySQL databases
* SSL certificates
* cPanel access
* FTP accounts
* Webmail access

SSL helps protect your website and gives visitors a more secure connection. You can also use cPanel to manage many parts of your hosting account. The Cpanel platform is also included in the price and it is fantastic management tool of your hosting platform .

Check Your Business Email Online

You don’t always need your usual computer to read your business emails. With webmail access, you can check your messages from almost any device with an internet connection. When logging into devices that are not your own always ensure to connected to a VPN , making sure you are safe on a public WIFI .

Simply open the webmail login and enter your email address and password. You can then read and send messages online. This is handy when you are away from the office or cannot access your normal email programme. This is a standard feature on every Domain Name Hosting Services.

Build Your Own Website or Use Our Design Service with domain name hosting service

Your hosting account provides space for your website. If you want to build the site yourself, Starcom also offers a website builder with a domain and hosting sign-up.

Alternatively, we offer website design for businesses that would rather have a professionally built site. You can choose the option that suits your budget and the time you have available. Some website builders are limited and also show their branding , which is not a great look for your brand or company. A professional design that is customised to your look and feel will be the better solution as a first impression for potential new clients. But first you need a Domain Name Hosting Services package

Affordable Domain Name Hosting Services

Starcom offers Domain Name Hosting Services for businesses and individuals. We also run specials from time to time, giving you another way to keep your online costs under control.

Currently, you can get a free .co.za domain when you purchase a domain hosting package for a year and select annual payment at sign-up. Check the current offer and its terms before ordering.

If you need a domain, website space and business email in one place, contact Starcom to discuss your hosting requirements. We also offering a free 087 number for all out Starcom clients from VirtualNumber , T&C’s apply. Once you have registered your Domain Name Hosting Services , get in touch to assist you with an 087 number.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the difference between a domain name and web hosting?

A domain name is your website’s address on the internet (e.g., yourcompany.co.za), while web hosting is the physical server space where your website files, images, and email databases are stored so visitors can access them online.

2. How much does a .co.za domain registration cost with Starcom?

Official .co.za domain registrations start from R89 per year with Starcom, making it easy for local businesses to secure an affordable online identity.

3. Can I get a free .co.za domain with Starcom web hosting?

Yes! Starcom offers a free .co.za domain registration when you purchase any annual web hosting package upfront.

4. Do Starcom domain hosting packages include professional email addresses?

Yes, all hosting plans allow you to create unlimited custom business email addresses (e.g., info@yourcompany.co.za), helping you present a credible, established image to clients.

5. Are SSL certificates included with Starcom hosting?

Yes, every web and domain hosting package comes with free SSL certificates to secure data transmission, build customer trust, and maintain strong search engine visibility.

6. What control panel is provided to manage hosting accounts?

Starcom provides an easy-to-use RCP / cPanel control panel, giving you full control over file management, databases, email creation, subdomains, and webmail access.

7. Can I transfer my existing domain name to Starcom?

Yes, you can easily transfer your existing domain name to Starcom to consolidate all your domain management and web hosting services under one local provider.

8. How fast are domain registrations activated?

Domain registrations and hosting accounts are processed immediately upon completing order confirmation, allowing you to set up emails and upload files right away.

9. Does domain hosting support platforms like WordPress?

Yes, Starcom hosting includes high-speed PHP and MySQL support, making it fully optimized for 1-click installations of platforms like WordPress, Joomla, and WHMCS.

10. What server uptime can I expect with Starcom web hosting?

Starcom operates high-performance web servers based in Johannesburg, guaranteeing a minimum of 99% uptime for fast local loading speeds and reliable website availability.

Domain Name Hosting Services

Domain Name Hosting Services