As of 1st December 2012 the proposed policy change for Closed Redemption; available here; will be in place.
Functionality has been provided on the Registrar Portal to allow registrars to expire domains on the OT&E server.
To test the functionality, please create a domain on the OT&E server. Following the creation, log into your Registrar Panel and expire the domain using the “Expire Domain” functionality on the right-hand side menu. The domain will enter the Suspension Phase for 5 minutes, the Deletion Phase for an additional 5 minutes, followed by the Closed Redemption Phase for 20 minutes.
More information regarding the Closed Redemption process is available here.