ESMA has issued Q&As to clarify expectations for the EU's Consolidated Tapes' launch, aiming to increase certainty for market participants. The Q&As cover data contributor onboarding and operational rules for Consolidated Tape Providers. Trading venues and Authorised Publication Arrangements have a legal obligation to contribute data from the CTs’ go-live. ESMA expects these data contributors to engage with selected CTPs before formal authorization to establish data transmission setups. This engagement includes agreeing on protocols and conducting various tests. Selected CTPs are also expected to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of information received during this preparatory phase. fairCT was selected for the bonds CT and EuroCTP for the equities CT in 2025, with their authorization processes ongoing. The derivatives CT provider selection was launched in January 2026, with an announcement expected by July 2026.