Hi, ICANN here.
Concerning the removal of the .io ccTLD, we heard your feedback loud and clear.
We now realize we should have provided a clear path for businesses and other users of .io to continue using their domains.
Unfortunately, our guidelines reserve two-letter TLDs for use by countries only.
Therefor we are seeking input on which letter to prefix or append “io” with.
Once .io is deleted, domains registered with .io will automatically be migrated to .io with the additional letter. Redirects for .io will be created, ensuring perfect continuity for an additional 10 years beyond the deletion of .io.
We sincerely thank you for your understanding.
C-something - ICANN