Mexico’s National Mobile Telephone Registry: Challenges Ahead
The national mobile telephone registry has just started in Mexico and is already facing its first big test. Just a few days after the mandatory registration of lines came into effect, the country’s main operators met with the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (CRT) to request a postponement. Operators argue that the tight deadlines are nearly impossible to meet, compounded by ongoing technical failures from the outset.
The Challenge in Figures
Mexico has over 158 million active telephone lines that must be registered before June 30, 2026. This daunting task requires operators like Telcel, AT&T, and Telefónica to register nearly 924,000 lines each day for the next 172 days. Achieving such a goal appears to be excessively ambitious and fraught with challenges.
Operators’ Meeting with the CRT
According to media reports from Expansión, representatives from several operators attended a critical meeting with the CRT to argue for an extension. Their main argument pointed out the industry’s mere 30 calendar days to develop and implement systems capable of handling this massive undertaking. Despite formally requesting an extension as far back as December 30, the operators received no response from the regulator.
Technical Problems Arise
Technical issues have already begun to surface. Telcel reported intermittent failures on their platforms due to overwhelming demand as users rushed to complete the registration process. Additionally, there were reports of a potential security vulnerability that could have exposed sensitive customer data, although the company claims to have rectified the problem swiftly. The CRT acknowledged these “intermittencies” but provided no further details.
The Economic Implications
The financial burden associated with this registry is significant. According to an entrepreneur in the MVNO sector, each registration attempt costs approximately 3.45 pesos (around 17 euro cents), covering only user verification and excluding taxes. Compounding the issue, many users may require multiple attempts—up to three to five—to complete the process successfully.
The CRT estimates that the total investment necessary for this initiative will exceed 4,053 million pesos (near 194.5 million euros). Notably, only 22 million pesos are allocated for developing the platform, with the bulk of the funds dedicated to identity verification. This poses an additional concern for the telecom sector.
Widespread Concerns
The Mexican Association of Virtual Mobile Operators (AMOMVAC) has echoed the request for a postponement, highlighting the security objectives of the registry aimed at combating telephone extortion. They report that from January to July, there were 6,880 victims of extortion. However, AMOMVAC warns of operational, economic, and social pitfalls, especially for rural communities and those with low digital literacy. The risk remains that countless lines might be suspended if users fail to register correctly.
What Lies Ahead
As it stands, the CRT has not officially responded to the requests for extension, and the registration deadline remains unaltered, set for June 30, 2026. Following this date, all unregistered lines—be it prepaid or postpaid—will face suspension. The future of millions of Mexican mobile users hangs in the balance, underlining the importance of a well-executed and user-friendly registration process.