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Mandatory registration of mobile lines hits AT&T Mexico

The mandatory cell line registration process had a strong impact on AT&T Mexico’s prepaid customer base. During the second quarter of 2026, the company lost one million users in that segment. At the end of June, it had 15 million 829 thousand prepaid customers, according to its financial results.

In contrast, the postpaid service reported significant growth. The company added 369 thousand new clients, an increase of 20.7% compared to the same period of the previous year. Thus, it reached a total of 7 million 457 thousand users at the end of the semester.

Since January, telecommunications companies began registering mobile lines in the national registry. However, only 43% of the lines had been registered to date. Given this, the federal government extended the deadline to complete the process. The suspension of service for those who do not comply will begin in stages between August 15 and December 31.

The general director of AT&T Mexico, Mónica Aspe, indicated that the company will concentrate its efforts on successfully concluding the linkage process during the second half of the year. For its part, the consulting firm The Competitive Intelligence Unit (CIU) attributed the reduction in prepaid lines to the mandatory registration.

Despite the decrease in prepaid users, AT&T reported total revenue of $1,224 million in the second quarter. This represented annual growth of 16.1%, driven primarily by a favorable exchange rate. In addition, the company highlighted the strengthening of its network and the deployment of 5G infrastructure in stadiums and Fan Fest areas during the World Cup tournament, as part of its growth strategy.

The United States is evaluating replacing the temporary tariffs that expire this week with a regional scheme focused on combating forced and child labor. The measure would impose a 10% tax on Mexican products, according to international trade specialists.

New tariff scheme

The tax would be linked to compliance with labor legislation and the prohibition of importing goods made with forced or child labor. It would also apply to inputs from third countries where these practices exist. Sanctions could hit entire regions, not just specific companies.

Adrián Castillo, partner at Von Wobeser y Sierra, pointed out that if US authorities detect signs of forced labor in a company in a certain area, trade restrictions would be extended to the entire region. He recalled that the T-MEC already includes provisions against goods produced under these conditions, and that Mexico implemented certification mechanisms since 2025.

Regional impact

Jorge Molina, a foreign trade specialist, indicated that the new tax will replace the temporary tariff established by Washington and responds to President Donald Trump’s strategy. He added that the measure seeks to prevent products manufactured with Chinese inputs from entering the US market through Mexico.

The precise details of the scheme will be known in the coming days, but experts warn that it will especially affect sectors with high exposure to the regional supply chain.

The Mexican government filed 20 criminal complaints in the United States to investigate the deaths of at least 17 Mexicans in the custody of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE). The deaths occurred since May 2025.

The complaints were filed with eight state prosecutors’ offices and 12 county prosecutors’ offices in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri and Texas. The Attorney General’s Office (FGR) sent a formal appeal to the Department of Justice to request the opening of investigations and find out the progress of each file.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) also requested the intervention of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk. The objective is to evaluate whether the cases comply with the United States’ international obligations to protect human rights. This action marks a shift: from diplomatic protests to legal and multilateral mechanisms.

The case that triggered the greatest pressure was the death of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, who died during an immigration operation in Houston, Texas, on July 7. Based on that fact, the Mexican government placed the situation of migrants in ICE custody as a priority issue in the bilateral relationship.

While the investigations continue, the Mexican consular network provides legal advice, support for the repatriation of remains and administrative procedures to the families of the victims. The SRE will follow up on the responses of the US authorities, although it recognized that the process to achieve investigations and sanctions could extend for a long period.