The Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia (CNMC) has approved a circular that regulates the creation of an Alias Registry. This system is designed to verify the names or brands appearing as senders in SMS, MMS, or RCS messages sent to Spanish numbers.

The primary goal of this initiative is to restore user confidence in electronic communications and to strengthen protection against identity theft fraud, where scammers impersonate legitimate entities using familiar names.

Under the new regulations, only aliases that are registered and linked to their legitimate owners can be used as senders. Telecommunication operators are required to block messages that use unregistered identifiers starting from June 7, 2026.

Companies wishing to send messages under their brand names must register these aliases in the CNMC-managed registry. If unauthorized parties attempt to use these names, their messages will be blocked.

The registry will include all alphanumeric identifiers that can be used as senders for messages to Spanish numbers. Entities such as companies and public administrations can register aliases, provided they can prove their connection to the brand or name.

Additionally, the circular outlines the responsibilities of messaging service providers, who must block messages from unregistered aliases or those sent without proper authorization.

A public portal will be made available on the CNMC website, allowing users to check registered aliases and their owners, thereby enhancing transparency and user trust in electronic communications.