Holders of .AT domain names in Austria must add a telephone number to their registration records from 1 October 2026. The change comes as Austria’s new Network and Information System Security Act (NISG 2026) takes effect. That is according to the September 2026 edition of Anchovy News.
The law implements the European Union’s NIS2 Directive. It aims to strengthen cybersecurity and the resilience of network and information systems. It also brings stricter rules on the accuracy and verification of domain registration data.
What Changes for AT Domain Holders
Registration records for .AT domain names currently include the holder’s full name, postal address and email address. Legal entities must also provide their legal form.
From 1 October, a telephone number will be added to that required information. That is the most immediate change for every AT domain holder.
The law also introduces a formal requirement for domain name holders to cooperate with verification requests. Holders will not automatically have to provide supporting documents when the law takes effect. Instead, verification will take place if discrepancies are found in the registration data.
Deletion Risk for Missing Evidence
Failure to provide the required evidence, or providing it too late, may lead to termination of the domain contract. That would result in deletion of the domain name.
Verification of registration data is one of several domain security topics, alongside lookalike domain names used in phishing attacks.
How the nic.at WHOIS Database Will Change
The changes also affect the nic.at WHOIS database. From 1 October 2026, publicly available registration details for legal entities will include the email address and telephone number. Fax numbers will be removed.
Companies and other organisations are encouraged to use general contact details, such as a generic email address and a central telephone number. They should avoid the personal details of individual employees.
Details for domain name holders who are individuals will stay protected. They will not be made publicly available, in line with data protection requirements.
New Duties for Registrars and Providers
Registrars and internet service providers will be responsible for making sure that domain name holder information is complete and accurate. Updated contracts, registration guidelines and general terms and conditions will take effect alongside the new law.
The rules add to a busy period for domain regulation and disputes, from .AI domain disputes to Italy’s reclassification of CDNs.
Other Domain News This Month
The same Anchovy News edition reported that .FR, France’s country code domain managed by AFNIC, reached 4.5 million registered domain names in September 2026. That came just ten months after .FR reached 4.3 million.
Google Registry is also launching the new gTLDs .EAT, .FLY and .HERE, with General Availability from 17 November 2026.
The .AT requirements take effect on 1 October 2026, together with updated contracts, registration guidelines and terms for AT domain names.
