Bulk SMS in Italy runs on registered alphanumeric "alias" sender IDs under AGCOM rules, with marketing banned from 22:00 to 08:00 and on Sundays on most routes. VoIP in Italy is regulated by AGCOM, and since 2025 Italian networks block calls from abroad that show an Italian fixed or mobile number, unless the caller is genuinely roaming.
Rules last checked: October 2026.
Bulk SMS in Italy: the AGCOM alias register
In Italy an alphanumeric sender ID is called an alias. AGCOM's alias regulation (resolution 12/23/CIR) creates a national alias register: each alias must be registered before use, through an Italian messaging provider that checks the identity of the company behind it. Operators must filter SMS that carry unregistered aliases or aliases arriving from abroad. Look-alike aliases (a capital I standing in for an l, a zero for an O) and aliases that look like phone numbers are not allowed.
| Sender type | Status in Italy as of 2026 |
|---|---|
| Registered alias | The standard for A2P; must be in the AGCOM register |
| Italian long code | Supported domestically |
| International long code | Not supported; often replaced with an alias or local number |
| Short code | Supported, with weeks of provisioning |
Plan registration before the first send and use a provider that sends over a registered Italian route. More in sender ID registration by country.
Consent, sending hours and restricted content
Marketing SMS needs prior consent under the GDPR and the Italian Privacy Code, plus a clear way to opt out. Many routes refuse promotional traffic between 22:00 and 08:00 and all day on Sunday, so schedule campaigns for weekday daytime. Transactional messages (OTP, alerts) are not limited by time.
- Cannabis content is refused; gambling needs an Italian licence on most routes.
- Bank and courier brand names are a phishing target: expect extra checks before such aliases are accepted.
- Use your own domain rather than public URL shorteners.
See transactional vs promotional SMS.
Italian mobile networks
The networks are TIM, WindTre, Vodafone (now combined with Fastweb) and Iliad, plus MVNOs such as PosteMobile, ho. and Kena. Italian mobile numbers start with 3 (for example 333, 347, 351). Accented letters are common in Italian: à, è, é, ì, ò and ù are in GSM-7, so most Italian text fits 160 characters per part (GSM-7 vs Unicode).
VoIP in Italy: regulator and numbering
VoIP is legal in Italy. AGCOM (Autorità per le garanzie nelle comunicazioni) regulates the market and the numbering plan, and providers of electronic communications services need a general authorisation from the Ministry. Geographic numbers start with 0 (02 Milan, 06 Rome), mobile numbers with 3, and freephone with 800 or 803. Mobile termination is priced per operator, so rate decks list TIM, Vodafone, WindTre and Iliad separately (mobile termination rates).
Italy anti-spoofing rules for calls from abroad
AGCOM resolution 106/25/CONS requires Italian operators to block calls coming from abroad that show an Italian number, unless the number is really roaming abroad:
- 19 August 2025: blocking started for calls showing Italian fixed numbers;
- 19 November 2025: blocking extended to calls showing Italian mobile numbers, with a real-time check that the SIM is actually roaming.
Operators that hand over international traffic into Italy must declare it to AGCOM. Millions of calls were blocked in the first weeks. For buyers, an international route can no longer deliver a call with an Italian CLI: present a number you are entitled to use from the country you call from. Telemarketing calls to Italian consumers also have to respect the Registro delle Opposizioni (the national opt-out register, which covers mobile numbers). See CLI spoofing rules and why business calls get flagged.
What buyers ask for on Italian routes
- Whether CLI is delivered intact and which CLI is allowed (CLI vs non-CLI routes).
- Per-operator mobile rates, ASR and ACD for call center traffic.
- For SMS: alias registration lead time, delivery reports per network and OTP latency.
Check coverage on the Italy VoIP destination page and the Italy SMS destination page, or read about our VoIP termination and A2P SMS routes. VoIPMatcher sources the route from its carriers and manages it; buyers and sellers never see each other. Request an Italy voice route or request an Italy SMS route.
Frequently asked questions
Can I send SMS to Italy with an unregistered sender ID?
You should not plan on it. Under AGCOM's alias rules, alphanumeric sender IDs must be registered in the national alias register, and operators must filter messages that carry unregistered aliases or aliases arriving from abroad. Register the alias through an Italian messaging provider before your first campaign and keep it tied to your own brand.
Can I send marketing SMS on Sunday in Italy?
Most routes do not allow it. Promotional SMS to Italy is commonly blocked between 22:00 and 08:00 and all day on Sunday, so send campaigns on weekdays and Saturday in daytime. OTP codes, delivery notices and account alerts are transactional and can be sent at any time.
Why are my calls to Italy with an Italian caller ID blocked?
Since 2025 Italian operators must block calls from abroad that display an Italian number, fixed since 19 August 2025 and mobile since 19 November 2025, unless the number is genuinely roaming. If you call Italy from another country, present a number you are entitled to use there, or route the call through a provider with a real Italian presence.
What is the Registro delle Opposizioni?
It is Italy's national opt-out register for telemarketing. Consumers can list their fixed and mobile numbers to refuse marketing calls, and callers must check the list before calling unless they hold valid consent. Ignoring it can lead to fines from the Italian data protection authority.
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