What is .tel?
.tel is one of the older generic TLDs: ICANN records its delegation as March 2, 2007, long before the 2012 expansion.
On the technical side, .tel is served by 4 authoritative name servers, every one of them reachable over IPv6. It is also DNSSEC-signed: the root zone carries a DS record for .tel, which lets validating resolvers check its answers cryptographically. Registration data is published over RDAP and WHOIS (the WHOIS server is whois.nic.tel).
.tel FAQ
What does .tel stand for?
.tel stands for "telephone and contact data". It's one of the older generic TLDs, delegated in 2007.
What country is .tel?
None. .tel is a generic top-level domain, so it isn't tied to any country.
Who owns the .tel domain extension?
Telnames Limited operates .tel as its registry, under a registry agreement with ICANN.
When was .tel created?
.tel was delegated to the DNS root zone on March 2, 2007.
Is .tel a valid domain?
Yes. .tel is an active top-level domain in the DNS root zone, delegated in 2007, so .tel addresses work in every browser.
Can I buy a .tel domain?
.tel names are sold through ICANN-accredited registrars. Some gTLDs restrict who can register, so read Telnames Limited's policy if you're unsure.
Is .tel DNSSEC-signed?
Yes, the root zone holds a DS record for .tel.
Sources
Data from IANA root zone version 2026102000. Last changed March 18, 2024. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
