In 2023, a Hiya report ranked France and Spain among the European countries most affected by phone spam. Two years later, Spain has taken radical measures that are paying off spectacularly. Meanwhile, in France, Senate questions about the ineffectiveness of Bloctel are multiplying. Analysis of a striking contrast.
The Spanish Revolution of June 2025
On June 7, 2025, Spain took a decisive step with the entry into force of Orden TDF/149/2025. This reform outright prohibits commercial calls from:
- Mobile phone numbers (prefixes 6 and 7)
- Hidden or unassigned numbers
- Spoofed numbers
From now on, only geographic (landline) numbers, toll-free numbers (800, 900), or specific codes assigned by operators can be used for commercial prospecting.
Spectacular Results: 48 Million Calls Blocked
The figures released by the Spanish Ministry of Digital Transformation in August 2025 speak for themselves. Since the plan's launch in March 2025:
- 48 million fraudulent calls blocked by telecom operators
- 2.2 million fraudulent SMS intercepted
- 434,915 calls blocked daily after the June-July reinforcements
- 18,666 fraudulent SMS stopped daily
Minister Óscar López called these results "spectacular." The increase was 85% for calls and 87% for SMS after the June 2025 measures.
A Dissuasive Repressive Arsenal
Spain has also significantly toughened sanctions:
- Fines up to 2 million euros for serious violations
- Automatic nullity of contracts concluded without express and verifiable consent
- Obligation to renew consent every two years
- Mandatory distinct prefixes for promotional calls and customer service
In case of non-compliance with prefix distinction, operators are required to automatically block the call. This accountability of operators is the key to Spanish success.
Lista Robinson: An Effective Complement
Spain also has the Lista Robinson, the equivalent of France's Bloctel. But unlike France, this list is part of a more constraining ecosystem where non-compliance is immediately sanctioned and operators play an active filtering role.
France: Bloctel's Failure
In France, the situation is quite different. A parliamentary question in the Senate from October 2024 sums up the general sentiment: despite 6.2 million registered consumers and 12.4 million protected numbers, French people still receive an average of 4 unwanted calls per week, or more than 200 per year.
The reasons for this failure are multiple:
- Call centers use spoofing software to mask their identity
- Many calls come from abroad, outside French jurisdiction
- Sanctions, although existing (up to €375,000 for legal entities), are rarely applied
- Telecom operators have no obligation for preventive blocking
5 Lessons France Can Learn from the Spanish Model
1. Hold Telecom Operators Accountable
The great Spanish innovation is having imposed an obligation of result on operators. They must identify and block suspicious calls before they reach the recipient. In France, operators only have an obligation of means.
2. Ban Commercial Calls from Mobile Numbers
This simple but effective measure facilitates identification of legitimate calls. A mobile number making mass calls immediately becomes suspicious and can be automatically blocked.
3. Impose Distinct Prefixes
In Spain, promotional calls and customer service must use different prefixes. The consumer immediately knows what to expect and can choose whether to answer or not.
4. Actually Sanction
Fines of 2 million euros actually applied are much more dissuasive than fines of €375,000 rarely imposed. CNIL is indeed intensifying its controls, but sanctions remain insufficient given the scale of the problem.
5. Void Fraudulent Contracts
The automatic nullity of contracts concluded without verifiable consent is a formidable weapon. It deprives abusive marketers of the fruits of their offense.
Hope from the STIR/SHAKEN Protocol
There is nevertheless a glimmer of hope for France. The deployment of the STIR/SHAKEN protocol (called MAN in France) will authenticate call origins and effectively combat spoofing. But its full deployment will still take several years.
And Elsewhere in Europe?
Spain is not the only country to have taken effective measures. Germany has long applied a strict opt-in model through the BNetzA, with 4 times fewer complaints than France despite a larger population. Each European country offers valuable lessons for reforming the French system.
What French Companies Can Do Now
Without waiting for legislative changes, call centers and sales teams can anticipate:
- Favor geographic numbers for prospecting
- Continuously monitor reputation of their numbers with tools like HUHU
- Scrupulously respect Bloctel and authorized hours
- Obtain clear and documented consent before any call
- Train teams in best practices
The switch to opt-in planned in France for August 2026 will bring French legislation closer to the Spanish model. Companies that prepare now will have a decisive advantage.
