What is Enum? > How to Register

The registration of ENUM domains can only be performed by registrars and is only possible for existing telephone numbers.

Step 1: A registrant / telephone number holder decides to register the ENUM domain for his Irish number, and approaches a Tier 2 registrar.
Step 2: Tier 2 requests DNS setup from DNS provider.
Step 3: The Tier 2 registrar selects a cooperating Validation entity, and provides it with data about the registration.
Step 4: Validation entity confirms validation details with registrant if necessary.
Step 5: The Validation entity verifies the registrant's right to use the number, and if successful creates a validation token.
Step 6: The Tier 2 registrar provisions the ENUM domain and its associated objects with the registry.
Step 7: The Tier 1 registry automatically verifies the validation token attached to the request, and delegates the ENUM domain if all policy requirements are met.

After the ENUM domain has been successfully registered, "ENUM services" can be specified - these services refer to the internet addresses available for the respective telephone number. The possible services are VoIP addresses, web addresses and e-mail addresses. Further services are currently being developed.

During registration by a registrar, a process called "validation" takes place, which is the verification process that ensures the ENUM domain registrant is the same entity as the telephone number subscriber. This process is critical to ensuring an ENUM domain is not registered and used by an unauthorised entity. In this case internet calls would not reach the actual owner of the call number any longer.

A further validation (revalidation) is performed by the registrar at regular intervals (e.g. every 6 months), in order make sure that the telephone number of the relevant domain is still assigned to the user.