18(a). Describe the mission/purpose of your proposed gTLD.

The Applicant, Telefonica Brasil S.A., is the largest private business conglomerate in operation in Brazil, and the largest provider of telecommunications services. Telefonica Brasil S.A. is a member of the Telefonica Group, which headquarters is located in Spain.

The Telefonica Group is one of the three largest telecommunications conglomerates in the world, by the criterion of customer numbers: more than 306 million accesses in the 25 countries where it operates. It directly employs over 286 thousand professionals.

According to the Applicant, the mission and purpose of the .VIVO gTLD are manifold, as will be further explained below:

first and foremost: improving the presence of the Applicant and its key brand (“VIVO”) online and improving the online relationship between the Applicant and its customers;

securing and protecting the VIVO brand as a gTLD;

reflecting the VIVO brand at the top level of the DNS’ hierarchy;

providing stakeholders of the Applicant with a recognizable and trusted identifier on the Internet. Such stakeholders include, but are not limited to:

its subsidiaries in various countries;
official dealers and retailers of VIVO’s products and services;
affiliate partners;
sponsors;
prospective and current customers (currently, Telefonica Brasil S.A. has more than 86 million customers); and
directors and officers of Telefonica Brasil S.A. and its subsidiaries, including close to 85,000 employees.

providing such stakeholders with a secure and safe Internet environment, under the control of the Applicant, in which they are able to obtain information from and communicate with the Applicant and where they are able to obtain genuine information provided by Telefonica Brasil S.A. and its approved stakeholders; and

providing a central point of access that is useful and secure where prospective and current customers might utilize services, such as recharge, bill pay, contracting, and phone purchase, etc., currently offered through http:⁄⁄www.vivo.com.br.

Telefonica Brasil S.A. holds various registered trademarks for VIVO. Telefonica Brasil S.A. also submits this application for the .VIVO gTLD because it wants to prevent third parties from securing the gTLD that is identical to Telefonica Brasil S.A.’s highly distinctive and reputable brand.