Regulatory Compliance News

Mexico to Restructure Telecom Regulation with Two New Authorities

On July 16, 2025, Mexico officially enacted a sweeping reform through the publication of the new Law on Telecommunications and Broadcasting, thereby repealing the old Federal Telecommunications and Broadcasting Law acsan.mxCámara de Diputados. This law establishes a modern regulatory framework governing all aspects of telecommunications, satellite operations, spectrum allocation, Internet access, and media convergence, while enshrining protections for the rights of users and audiences under Articles 6, 7, 27, and 28 of the Mexican Constitution Cámara de Diputadossiempre.mx.

The law proclaims telecommunications and broadcasting as public services of general interest, explicitly banning discrimination on grounds of ethnicity, nationality, gender, age, disability, social condition, religion, opinions, sexual preference, or marital status—thus affirming the State’s role in ensuring equitable access and dignified treatment Cámara de Diputados. Furthermore, the law reinforces the State’s inalienable, imprescriptible, and original sovereignty over the radio-electrical spectrum, positioning it firmly within federal jurisdiction Cámara de Diputadoscomunicacionsocial.diputados.gob.mx.

Institutionally, the reform introduces a new regulatory architecture anchored by the creation of the Agency for Digital Transformation and Telecommunications (ATDT), tasked with shaping policies, promoting digital inclusion, and executing universal and social coverage initiatives. Supporting this agency is the Regulatory Commission of Telecommunications (CRT), an independent body responsible for spectrum management, licensing, technical standardization, enforcement, and public-sector transparency Wikipediaacsan.mxCámara de Diputados. Until the CRT is fully constituted, the Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT) will remain operational; once the CRT assumes its role, the IFT will be formally dissolved, and competition-related duties will be transferred to the Federal Competition Commission (CNA) acsan.mxWikipedia.

The law also prioritizes infrastructure deployment by designating major components—such as spectrum, public telecom networks, broadcasting stations, and satellite systems—as federal public interest, ensuring local authorities facilitate rather than hinder deployment. Property owners cannot charge additional economic burdens beyond existing agreements, and disputes are to be adjudicated by specialized federal courts Cámara de Diputadoscomunicacionsocial.diputados.gob.mx.

Transparency likewise becomes a cornerstone under the new law. A Public Telecommunications Registry will publish concession titles, frequency assignments, interconnection agreements, tariffs, ownership transfers, and any sanctions, available for public access to support open governance Cámara de Diputados.

Regarding competition, the provision for open architecture, interconnection, and interoperability ensures that network operators must interconnect non-discriminatorily. Entities with substantial market power will face asymmetric regulation, including mandated wholesale access and potentially structural divestiture if they exceed 50% market share Cámara de Diputadossiempre.mx.

The law imposes robust sanctions: procedural or reporting violations may result in fines up to 0.75% of revenues, with higher penalties of up to 6% for operational or privacy breaches, and up to 10% for grave infractions. It also criminalizes intentional damage to communications infrastructure, prescribing prison terms ranging from one to eight years, extending sentences if explosives are involved Cámara de Diputados.

In essence, this legislation marks a pivotal transformation in Mexico’s telecommunications and broadcasting landscape—modernizing regulation, bolstering transparency and competition, reaffirming public authority over spectrum, and embedding digital inclusion at its core, all while reshaping the institutional framework for the sector.