.TEL domains may be pointed to external web hosting, or registrants can use the TELhosting platform to create a simple directory listing page for their business.
Initial usernames and passwords for the TelHosting system are sent to .TEL domain holders by the registry. Any password changes are done directly via the TelHosting platform. Domain holders of completed registrations will automatically receive credentials as soon as the registration of a .TEL domain is completed.
.TEL domain names must adhere to the following guidelines:
- Can be a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 63 characters (not including the .tel extension).
- Can only contain letters, numbers, and hyphens.
- Can consist of numbers only; however. in this case, the maximum number of characters (including any combination of numbers and hyphens) is 7.
- Cannot begin or end with a hyphen.
- Cannot have hyphens as the 3rd and 4th characters.
- Two-character names cannot be country code top level domains (ccTLDs, such as uk.tel).
Registration details
Registration details can be found in the TLD reference chart.
Registrant access to the Telhosting Platform
In order for registrants to access the TelHosting platform and modify their domain name, they are required to visit a registrar-sponsored address (Reseller-level management addresses are not available).
Supporting the Telhosting Platform
The registry provides full support for any registrants using the TelHosting platform. All hosting product support requests can be directed to: cservice@telnic.org
Transfers
When a domain is transferred in from another registrar, the related telhosting site and DNS details will be reset. If the registrant wants to preserve the content of their .TEL domain, they should export their site from their TelHosting control panel before requesting the transfer. They will then have to import the content once the transfer completes.
As soon as the transfer completes, the username and password for the TelHosting system is sent to the .TEL domain holder from the registry.
Note: Domain names cannot be transferred within the first 60 days after they are created or within 60 days of a previous transfer.
Renewals
.TEL domains can be renewed prior to their expiry date for one to ten years.
OpenSRS holds a .TEL domain for 40 days after the expiry date. On the 40th day it is deleted from our system and enters into the Redemption Grace Period with the registry.
The Redemption Grace Period lasts for 30 days after which a 60 day lockdown period begins. After the 60 days, the registry makes the domain name available to the general public.
Historical Legacy Information – Telhosting Platform Changes
Historical context: All sections below are derived from the copied body of text you provided and reflect registry announcements and platform behavior circa 2017. These details are not explicitly documented in the current OpenSRS policy article.
Historical Removal of Usage Restrictions (March 13, 2017)
Prior to 2017, .TEL domains were restricted to publishing content exclusively on Telnic’s registry‑operated Telhosting platform.
Effective March 13, 2017, usage restrictions were lifted, allowing registrants to:
- Host their own websites
- Use third‑party hosting
- Continue using Telhosting as an optional service
Historical Telhosting Platform Transition
A new Telhosting platform was launched in 2017 as a single‑page digital profile solution.The platform enabled registrants to design, host, and publish a customized profile page.
Management options included:
- A registry desktop control panel
- Free iOS and Android mobile applications
Historical Features Introduced in the New Platform
- Page customization (look and feel)
- Publishing contact and content records
- Adding:
- PDF documents
- Images and video
- Promotional product or service offers
- Selling products and services via a PayPal interface
Historical Features Retired From the Previous Platform
The following features were retired during the 2017 platform transition:- Multiple pages or sub‑domains
- Telfriends and private data support
- .TEL directory search functionality
- Multiple profile support
- Telhosting language support for Arabic, Czech, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Russian
- SOAP API access for registrars and domain owners
- Google AdSense integration
Historical / Legacy Platform Retirement and Data Handling
Retirement of the Legacy Telhosting Platform
- The original Telhosting platform was retired on March 13, 2017.
- Content hosted on the legacy platform became inaccessible after this date.
Historical Data Backup and Migration Policy
- No automated data migration was performed between platforms.
- Registrants were responsible for backing up their data using the platform’s BACKUP function.
- Backups generated an XML file that could be used for:
- Reference when rebuilding content
- Import into independent third‑party systems
Historical Guidance for Sub‑Domain and Directory Users
- Sub‑domain functionality was not supported in the new Telhosting platform.
- Directory builders were advised to back up data before March 12, 2017.
- Registrants seeking sub‑domain support were instructed to contact cservice@telnic.org to discuss alternative options.
Historical Support Model Transition
- Prior to March 13, 2017, Telhosting support was typically provided by registrars or resellers.
- As of March 13, 2017, Telnic assumed direct responsibility for Telhosting platform support.
Historical Registrant FAQ (2017)
The following FAQ content reflects legacy registry communications and is retained for historical reference only.
- All usage restrictions were lifted on March 13, 2017.
- New Telhosting accounts were issued beginning February 13, 2017.
- Registrants who took no action received an empty Telhosting account.
- Legacy platform data became permanently inaccessible after March 13, 2017.
- The Telhosting platform remained free and optional.
- Domain ownership and registrar relationships were not affected by Telhosting changes.
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