Aggressive telemarketing may have its days numbered, or at least that’s what we hope. AGCOM (Communications Regulatory Authority) has in fact taken a concrete step to combat the annoying phenomenon, proposing to identify call centers and telemarketing operators via short 3-digit numbers, similar to those used for customer support. The Authority had already launched this idea last December, but now there is important news: resolution no. 21/26/CIR was approved on 14 April by AGCOM’s Infrastructure and Networks Commission and this makes the introduction of the adoption of three-digit numbers much closer.
What will change with 3-digit numbers for call centers: the AGCOM news
The heart of the provision is conceptually simple: companies operating in the field of telemarketing will be able to use three-digit numbers as caller identification. These are numbers already familiar to users, because they are used for emergency or public utility services. These numbers, according to what was reported by Il Sole 24 orecannot be replicated from abroad. What does this mean? That a foreign call center will not be able to “disguise” itself by using the same identifier. This could significantly reduce not only phone spam, but also many of the phone scams that come from outside the country today.
The resolution also expands the numbers that can be used for calls and messages. These include:
- Toll-free numbers for the caller.
- European numbers for social services.
- SMS, MMS and data transmission services.
The provision follows a trail that has been traced by AGCOM for some time with other resolutions (no. 106/25/CONS and no. 271/25/CONS), all aimed at making commercial communications more transparent. The introduction of the measure will be gradual. The measures are already operational, but the complete implementation will take place in several steps. For this reason, a technical table has been set up with operators and regulators, which will also have to define which numbers will be dedicated exclusively to telemarketing. Regarding the establishment of the technical table, AGCOM explained:
In consideration of the complexity of the impacts of the new provisions on the market, the Authority has finally arranged for the establishment of a technical table, aimed at defining the implementation methods of the measures introduced and examining further topics. Among these, the regulation of numbers to be allocated exclusively to teleselling and telemarketing services is of particular importance, which by their nature are more exposed to abusive phenomena, also in light of the recent regulatory changes introduced by the Legislator regarding the supply of electricity and gas.
The new rules for electricity and gas from 19 June
In the meantime, on a legislative level, the so-called Bill Decree (DL 21/2026) also intervened. During the conversion into law, a limitation on telemarketing for electricity and gas contracts was introduced. The legislation in question, in article 8-bis, provides that «the professional can contact the consumer by telephone, also by sending messages, if there has been a request made directly to the professional himself through the latter’s IT interfaces or if the contact has been made to his electricity and gas customers who have expressed specific consent to receive commercial proposals. It is the professional’s burden to demonstrate the validity of the contact».
Translated, this means that starting from 19 June, i.e. at the end of the 60 days required by the law to comply, electricity and gas companies will no longer be able to contact users by telephone or message to propose contracts, except in cases where the user has expressed explicit and written consent to receive commercial communications. If they do not comply with this rule, the contracts stipulated in violation of paragraph 8-bis mentioned above will be considered null and void.
