3) Top –level domain name registry (TLD name registry). The top-level domain name registry is defined in Article 4(16) as an entity administrating and operating the registration of internet domain names under a specific top-level domain. Such administration and management of domain names includes the encoding of TLD names into IP addresses. IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority) is responsible for the global coordination of the DNS Root, Internet Protocol addressing, and other Internet Protocol resources. In particular, IANA is responsible for the assignment of generic Top level domains (gTLD) e.g. '.com' and country code Top-level domains (ccTLD) e.g. '.be', to operators (registries) and the maintenance of their technical and administrative details. IANA maintains a global registry of allocated TLDs and plays a role in the promulgation of this list to Internet users world-wide as well as in the introduction of new TLDs. An important task of the registries is to allocate second-level names to the so-called registrants under their respective TLD. These registrants are able also on their own to allocate third-level domain names if they chose to do so. The ccTLDs are designated to represent a country or territory based on the ISO 3166-1 standard. The "generic" TLDs do not normally have a geographic or country designation. It should be noted that the operation of TLDs name registry can include the provision of DNS. For example, pursuant to the delegation rules of IANA, the designated entity dealing with ccTLD needs – inter alia – to supervise the domain names and to operate the DNS of that country27. Such circumstances need to be taken into account by the Member States when carrying out the identification process of operators of essential services under Article 5(2). 4.1.2. Identification of operators of essential services. In accordance with the requirements of Article 5 of the Directive, each Member State is required to carry out an identification process with regard to all entities of the types listed in Annex II that have a legal establishment on the territory of that Member State. As a result of this assessment, all entities that fulfil the criteria laid down in Article 5(2) shall be identified as OES and be subject to the security and notification obligations of Article 14. Member States have until 9 November, 2018 to identify operators for each sector and subsector. In order to support Member States throughout this process, the Cooperation Group is currently developing a guidance document with relevant information about the necessary steps and best practices related to the identification of OES. Furthermore in accordance with Article 24(2), the Cooperation Group is to discuss the process, substance and type of national measures allowing for the identification of operators of essential services in specific sectors. A Member State may, prior to 9 November, 2018 seek 27 Information available at: https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/delegation-2012-02-25-en 22