Telecommunications in Mexico: On the Path To Technical Independence

On November 25, President Sheinbaum published the Internal Regulations of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (CRT), thus establishing the operational structure that grants legal powers to officials with decision-making authority within the regulator.

The Regulations align with the Constitutional Reform’s goal of streamlining public bodies and eliminating autonomous agencies such as the Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT). With the CRT now operational as of October 17, it is fully empowered to implement the new Telecommunications and Broadcasting Law published on July 16.

Organizational simplification

As expected, organizational simplification has not only resulted in economic competition matters now falling under the purview of the National Antitrust Commission, but also in the elimination of several positions that previously existed in the former IFT.

The number of Commissioners was reduced from seven to five, and all positions for the seven Heads of the Administrative Units and six General Coordinators were eliminated, along with the entire Center for Studies. In the regulatory administrative units – which encompass procedures, regulatory policy, spectrum, bidding processes, audiences, and content – the number of General Directorates was cut from 13 to six, in addition to eliminating their four Heads of Unit. Notably, in the area of licenses, authorizations, and registries, work previously handled by a Head of Unit and three General Directorates is now managed by a single General Director.

In addition, these Regulations take into account the new powers granted to the CRT, including new authorization schemes in a sandbox environment, authorizations for smart radiocommunication networks, shared use of Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) infrastructure for internet access services, discounts on spectrum fees, and a frequency band plan coordinated with the Digital Transformation and Telecommunications Agency (ATDT) to meet the needs of the Federal Executive power, among others.

Technical independence and impartiality

It should be noted that, under the telecommunications bill submitted to the Senate in April, all regulatory authority would originally have resided with the ATDT. Thanks to the discussion process initiated by President Sheinbaum, including the Conversatorios led by Senator Javier Corral, 107 changes were made to the original bill, one of which created a dedicated regulatory body: the CRT.

The CRT is a decentralized body of the ATDT, with technical, operational, and management independence, that will act impartially when issuing resolutions to guarantee the efficient development of telecommunications and broadcasting.

Today, the CRT faces the challenge of fulfilling this mandate as an ATDT body with a reduced number of decision-making positions, in a rapidly evolving environment where the State, through CFE, will compete directly in the telecommunications services market.

What it means for Mexican telecoms

Technical independence and impartiality must be part of the CRT’s DNA. Regulatory Improvement is one of the key tools the CRT can use to meet this challenge and fulfil its legal mandate. The Law, the Internal Regulations, and the ADTD’s drive to simplify procedures all support a broader application of Regulatory Improvement.

Resolution CP/RES. 1288 (2554/25), approved by the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States on June 18, 2025, establishes 14 key recommendations to strengthen Regulatory Improvement for telecommunications services, with the objective of directly benefiting users.

Some of these Regulatory Improvement recommendations include incentivizing regulatory simplification, streamlining processes through digitalization, promoting innovative regulatory models such as regulatory sandboxes, fostering a transparent regulatory environment through updated regulatory agendas, promoting regulatory transparency through public consultations and participatory spaces, and promoting an open data strategy, among others.

This Resolution CP/RES. 1288 (2554/25) is being supported by the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL), which is providing technical assistance to help countries adopt and implement best practices. It is worth noting that this process seeks to address the respective regulatory frameworks in a relevant and applicable manner.

Our take

In addition to leveraging Regulatory Improvement, the CRT must adapt its regulatory strategies to an evolving landscape where public entities such as CFE compete directly in the telecommunications market. This dynamic requires rigorous oversight and the implementation of international best practices to foster fair competition, enhance user experience, and ensure transparency. The CRT’s capacity to act impartially and independently will be tested as it balances the interests of diverse stakeholders, integrates innovative regulatory frameworks, and maintains its commitment to efficiency and user-centric outcomes within the sector’s rapidly changing environment.