Phone Number Prefix Normative: Difference between revisions
Created page with "The '''Telephone Prefix Norm''' (in Spanish: Norma de Prefijos Telefónicos) is a law that came into force on August 13 2025 in Chile. The purpose of this law is to make easy to identify phone numbers that belong to commercial numbers. ==Background== ==What does this norm do== All phone numbers that belong to telecommunications companies that do commercial or massive phone calls are forced to add a prefix to their numbers in order to be recognizable: *The prefix '''..." |
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The ''' | The '''Phone Number Prefix Normative''' (in Spanish: Norma de Prefijos Telefónicos), also known as the "''anti-spam law''" is a modification of the Chilean Telecommunications Subsecretary (Subtel) Exempt N° 1319, a group of legislations and normatives that involve phone number structuration and management.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile |date=17 Jun 2025 |title=Resolución 900 EXENTA MODIFICA RESOLUCIÓN N° 1.319 EXENTA, DE 2004, DE LA SUBSECRETARÍA DE TELECOMUNICACIONES |trans-title= EXEMPT Resolution 900 MODIFIES EXEMPT RESOLUTION N° 1,319, OF 2004, BY THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SUBSECRETARY |url=https://www.bcn.cl/leychile/navegar?idNorma=1214299&idParte=10552211 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260407200737/https://www.bcn.cl/leychile/navegar?idNorma=1214299&idParte=10552211 |archive-date=2026-04-07 |access-date=7 Apr 2026}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |publisher=Subtel |date=24 Jul 2025 |title=Prefijos Únicos – Comunicaciones Seguras |trans-title=Unique Prefixes - Safe Communications |url=https://www.subtel.gob.cl/prefijos-unicos/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260211002043/https://www.subtel.gob.cl/prefijos-unicos/ |archive-date=2026-02-11 |access-date=7 Apr 2026 |website=Subtel}}</ref> The number prefix normative was announced by the Chilean government in March 2025<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Subtel |date=20 March 2025 |title=Gobierno anuncia implementación de numeración especial para la identificación de llamadas comerciales |trans-title=Government announces the implementation of special numeration for identifying commercial calls |url=https://www.subtel.gob.cl/gobierno-anuncia-implementacion-de-numeracion-especial-para-la-identificacion-de-llamadas-comerciales/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 Feb 2026 |website=Subtel}}</ref> and has been taking effect since August 13, 2025. The purpose of this law is to mandate commercial phone numbers to add fixed number prefixes to be easily identified by Chilean consumers and prevent scams and malicious phone calls disguised as commercial calls. <ref name=":1">{{Cite web |publisher=Defensa y Justicia |date=14 Aug 2025 |title=Chile estrena prefijos 600 y 809: así cambian las llamadas comerciales (y cómo evitar estafas) |trans-title=Chile releases 600 and 809 prefixes: this is how commercial calls change (and how to avoid scams) |url=https://defensayjusticia.cl/ley-antispam-600-809-chile-2025/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 Feb 2026 |website=Defensa y Justicia Abogados}}</ref> | ||
==Background== | ==Background== | ||
Researches done in the country have reported the average monthly amount of undesired publicitary phone calls ("spam calls") received by a Chilean have been increased during the last years. Along with this, the amount of reports to police about fraudulent calls have also increased. | |||
Researches and reports by [[wikipedia:Hiya_(company)|Hiya]] done in 2024 stated that in Chile, a person receives an average of 28 spam calls per month, with Brazil also sharing this amount. This was the highest number of average monthly spam calls registered in Latin America during that year. Hiya's research also stated 25% of these calls were meant to be fraudulent phone calls. The same research done in 2023 showed the average quantity of monthly spam was lower, with 20 calls per month. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Vega |first=Fernando |date=7 Apr 2025 |title=Llamadas Spam: estudio muestra cuántas recibe cada chileno al mes |trans-title=Spam Calls: research shows how many receives every Chilean per month |url=https://www.latercera.com/pulso/noticia/llamadas-spam-estudio-muestra-cuantas-recibe-cada-chileno-al-mes/ |url-status=live |access-date=24 Feb 2026 |website=La Tercera}}</ref> | |||
== | According to a research of the Chilean Investigation Police (PDI) done in 2024, the total amount of reports of fraudulent phone calls was of 4,533. This quantity was 19% higher than the amounts of reports that were done in 2023. <ref>{{Cite web |author=Subtel |date=12 Aug 2025 |title=Desde este miércoles las llamadas comerciales y masivas deberán llevar los prefijos 600 y 809 para su identificación |trans-title=Starting this wednesday, commercial and massive calls must have 600 and 809 prefixes in order to be identified |url=https://www.subtel.gob.cl/desde-este-miercoles-las-llamadas-comerciales-y-masivas-deberan-llevar-los-prefijos-600-y-809-para-su-identificacion/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 Feb 2026 |website=Subtel}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |publisher=CNN Chile |date=5 Feb 2025 |title=Estafas telefónicas van al alza: Denuncias aumentaron un 19% durante 2024 |trans-title=Phone scams are in rise: Reports were increased by 19% during 2024 |url=https://www.cnnchile.com/pais/estafas-telefonicas-van-al-alza-denuncias-aumentaron-un-19-durante-2024_20250205/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 Feb 2026 |website=CNN Chile}}</ref> | ||
==Exempt modification and effects== | |||
[[File:Prefixescl.png|thumb|An official image from the Chilean Government and Subtel, showing a brief explanation of the exempt modification]] | |||
All phone numbers that belong to telecommunications companies that do commercial or massive phone calls, SMS or MMS messages to users or subscribers, with publicitary or informative purposes about a product, service, scheduling or activity confirmation, are mandated to add fixed number prefixes to their phone numbers in order to be recognizable for the consumers. Any company that does not comply will have to pay a fine between 5 and 5,000 UTM (approximately between $406 and $405,784). Consumers are able to report to Subtel if they find a company that is not complying with the norm.<ref name=":1" /> | |||
===Prefix number 600=== | |||
The prefix '''600''' is a prefix number that indicates a phone number is dedicated to do consented or requested calls or messages to an user or subscriber. | |||
===Prefix number 809=== | |||
The prefix '''809''' is a prefix number that indicates a phone number is dedicated to do unrequested or unconsented publicitary calls or messages to an user or subscriber. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Estrella Oporto |first=Sandar |date=9 Aug 2025 |title=El nuevo prefijo para identificar las llamadas de spam o no deseadas |trans-title=The new prefix for identifying spam or undesired calls |url=https://www.latercera.com/servicios/noticia/el-nuevo-prefijo-para-identificar-las-llamadas-de-spam-o-no-deseadas/ |url-status=live |website=La Tercera |access-date=25 Feb 2026}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |publisher=WOM Chile |date=2025 |title=¿En qué consiste la Norma de Prefijos Telefónicos? |trans-title=What does the Number Prefix Normative consist of? |url=https://www.wom.cl/centro-de-ayuda/en-que-consiste-la-norma-de-prefijos-telefonicos/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 Feb 2026 |website=WOM Chile}}</ref> | |||
===Exceptions=== | |||
The law does not mandate phones that send messages via [[WhatsApp]] or similar applications to modify their prefixes.<ref name=":0" /> | |||
In March 2026, the Chilean Supreme Court stated the law will no longer affect phone numbers belonging to retailers, due to their claim the prefixes modification affected their ability to contact with in-debt customers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vergara |first=Mario |date=7 Mar 2026|title=Ya no están obligados a usar el prefijo 600 ni 809 por la ley anti-spam: esta llamada no se identificará en tu teléfono |trans-title=They will be no longer forced to use 600 nor 809 prefixes from the anti-spam law: this call will be not identified in your phone |url=https://www.adnradio.cl/2026/03/07/ya-no-estan-obligados-a-usar-el-prefijo-600-ni-809-por-la-ley-anti-spam-esta-llamada-no-se-identificara-en-tu-telefono/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260309080232/https://www.adnradio.cl/2026/03/07/ya-no-estan-obligados-a-usar-el-prefijo-600-ni-809-por-la-ley-anti-spam-esta-llamada-no-se-identificara-en-tu-telefono/ |archive-date=2026-03-09 |access-date=7 Apr 2026 |website=ADN Radio}}</ref> | |||
==Consequences== | ==Consequences== | ||
According to a survey of CADEM, a national research company, 80% of Chileans can recognize commercial | According to a survey of CADEM, a national research company, 80% of Chileans can recognize commercial calls from the number prefixes and 79% of them do not answer these calls after the implementation of the law. <ref>{{Cite web |author=CHH |date=20 Jan 2026 |title=Cadem 5C: 79% de los chilenos no contesta llamadas con prefijos 600 y 809 |trans-title=Cadem 5C: 79% of Chileans do not answer phone calls with 600 and 809 prefixes |url=https://www.chicureohoy.cl/actualidad/cadem-5c-79-de-los-chilenos-no-contesta-llamadas-con-prefijos-600-y-809/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 Feb 2026 |website=Chicureo Hoy}}</ref> | ||
==References== | |||
{{Reflist}} | |||
[[Category:Chile]] | [[Category:Chile]] | ||
[[Category:Legislation in Chile]] | |||
[[Category:Legislation in South America]] | |||
Latest revision as of 23:12, 7 April 2026
The Phone Number Prefix Normative (in Spanish: Norma de Prefijos Telefónicos), also known as the "anti-spam law" is a modification of the Chilean Telecommunications Subsecretary (Subtel) Exempt N° 1319, a group of legislations and normatives that involve phone number structuration and management.[1][2] The number prefix normative was announced by the Chilean government in March 2025[3] and has been taking effect since August 13, 2025. The purpose of this law is to mandate commercial phone numbers to add fixed number prefixes to be easily identified by Chilean consumers and prevent scams and malicious phone calls disguised as commercial calls. [4]
Background
[edit | edit source]Researches done in the country have reported the average monthly amount of undesired publicitary phone calls ("spam calls") received by a Chilean have been increased during the last years. Along with this, the amount of reports to police about fraudulent calls have also increased.
Researches and reports by Hiya done in 2024 stated that in Chile, a person receives an average of 28 spam calls per month, with Brazil also sharing this amount. This was the highest number of average monthly spam calls registered in Latin America during that year. Hiya's research also stated 25% of these calls were meant to be fraudulent phone calls. The same research done in 2023 showed the average quantity of monthly spam was lower, with 20 calls per month. [5]
According to a research of the Chilean Investigation Police (PDI) done in 2024, the total amount of reports of fraudulent phone calls was of 4,533. This quantity was 19% higher than the amounts of reports that were done in 2023. [6][7]
Exempt modification and effects
[edit | edit source]
All phone numbers that belong to telecommunications companies that do commercial or massive phone calls, SMS or MMS messages to users or subscribers, with publicitary or informative purposes about a product, service, scheduling or activity confirmation, are mandated to add fixed number prefixes to their phone numbers in order to be recognizable for the consumers. Any company that does not comply will have to pay a fine between 5 and 5,000 UTM (approximately between $406 and $405,784). Consumers are able to report to Subtel if they find a company that is not complying with the norm.[4]
Prefix number 600
[edit | edit source]The prefix 600 is a prefix number that indicates a phone number is dedicated to do consented or requested calls or messages to an user or subscriber.
Prefix number 809
[edit | edit source]The prefix 809 is a prefix number that indicates a phone number is dedicated to do unrequested or unconsented publicitary calls or messages to an user or subscriber. [8] [9]
Exceptions
[edit | edit source]The law does not mandate phones that send messages via WhatsApp or similar applications to modify their prefixes.[2]
In March 2026, the Chilean Supreme Court stated the law will no longer affect phone numbers belonging to retailers, due to their claim the prefixes modification affected their ability to contact with in-debt customers.[10]
Consequences
[edit | edit source]According to a survey of CADEM, a national research company, 80% of Chileans can recognize commercial calls from the number prefixes and 79% of them do not answer these calls after the implementation of the law. [11]
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ "Resolución 900 EXENTA MODIFICA RESOLUCIÓN N° 1.319 EXENTA, DE 2004, DE LA SUBSECRETARÍA DE TELECOMUNICACIONES" [EXEMPT Resolution 900 MODIFIES EXEMPT RESOLUTION N° 1,319, OF 2004, BY THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SUBSECRETARY]. Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile. 17 Jun 2025. Archived from the original on 2026-04-07. Retrieved 7 Apr 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Prefijos Únicos – Comunicaciones Seguras" [Unique Prefixes - Safe Communications]. Subtel. Subtel. 24 Jul 2025. Archived from the original on 2026-02-11. Retrieved 7 Apr 2026.
- ↑ "Gobierno anuncia implementación de numeración especial para la identificación de llamadas comerciales" [Government announces the implementation of special numeration for identifying commercial calls]. Subtel. Subtel. 20 March 2025. Retrieved 25 Feb 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Chile estrena prefijos 600 y 809: así cambian las llamadas comerciales (y cómo evitar estafas)" [Chile releases 600 and 809 prefixes: this is how commercial calls change (and how to avoid scams)]. Defensa y Justicia Abogados. Defensa y Justicia. 14 Aug 2025. Retrieved 25 Feb 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Vega, Fernando (7 Apr 2025). "Llamadas Spam: estudio muestra cuántas recibe cada chileno al mes" [Spam Calls: research shows how many receives every Chilean per month]. La Tercera. Retrieved 24 Feb 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Subtel (12 Aug 2025). "Desde este miércoles las llamadas comerciales y masivas deberán llevar los prefijos 600 y 809 para su identificación" [Starting this wednesday, commercial and massive calls must have 600 and 809 prefixes in order to be identified]. Subtel. Retrieved 25 Feb 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Estafas telefónicas van al alza: Denuncias aumentaron un 19% durante 2024" [Phone scams are in rise: Reports were increased by 19% during 2024]. CNN Chile. CNN Chile. 5 Feb 2025. Retrieved 25 Feb 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Estrella Oporto, Sandar (9 Aug 2025). "El nuevo prefijo para identificar las llamadas de spam o no deseadas" [The new prefix for identifying spam or undesired calls]. La Tercera. Retrieved 25 Feb 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "¿En qué consiste la Norma de Prefijos Telefónicos?" [What does the Number Prefix Normative consist of?]. WOM Chile. WOM Chile. 2025. Retrieved 25 Feb 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Vergara, Mario (7 Mar 2026). "Ya no están obligados a usar el prefijo 600 ni 809 por la ley anti-spam: esta llamada no se identificará en tu teléfono" [They will be no longer forced to use 600 nor 809 prefixes from the anti-spam law: this call will be not identified in your phone]. ADN Radio. Archived from the original on 2026-03-09. Retrieved 7 Apr 2026.
- ↑ CHH (20 Jan 2026). "Cadem 5C: 79% de los chilenos no contesta llamadas con prefijos 600 y 809" [Cadem 5C: 79% of Chileans do not answer phone calls with 600 and 809 prefixes]. Chicureo Hoy. Retrieved 25 Feb 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)