An analysis of the new telecommunications regulation
The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (CRT) has issued a far-reaching resolution that will modify the landscape of mobile communications in the country. Starting January 9, 2026, all cell phone lines that are not properly associated with a natural person or legal entity will be suspended indefinitely. This institutional decision is not arbitrary; responds to a comprehensive strategy to guarantee that telecommunications services are not exploited anonymously for the commission of illicit activities, a problem that has shown sustained growth in recent years.
The context of this measure is at the intersection between public safety, data protection and technological evolution. Historically, prepaid lines have presented a challenge to authorities due to the ease of acquisition without robust identity verification. The new regulations, therefore, seek to standardize identification standards, extending to the prepaid segment the registration protocols that are already mandatory for contract or postpaid lines.
Protocols and deadlines for mandatory registration
Affected users will have a mandatory period of 30 calendar days, counted from the official notification, to register and update their personal or business data directly with their mobile phone operators. The process will require the presentation of current official identification, such as a voting card with a photograph or a passport, complemented by the Unique Population Registration Code (CURP). For legal entities, the requirement is expanded to include the Federal Taxpayer Registry (RFC), thus ensuring the legal traceability of each active line.
This action is based on the “Guidelines for the identification of mobile telephone lines“, approved by the Plenary of the CRT. The regulatory body has emphasized that the initiative is aligned with the best international practices in telecommunications, following models successfully implemented in other jurisdictions to discourage fraudulent use of mobile networks.
Balance between security, responsibility and privacy
The implementation falls directly on the concessionaires and telephone operators, who will be ultimately responsible for collecting, verifying and, crucially, safeguarding users’ sensitive information. They must strictly comply with the mandates of the Federal Law on Protection of Personal Data Held by Private Parties, guaranteeing cybersecurity protocols that prevent leaks or unauthorized access.
The CRT has argued, from a risk-benefit analysis approach, that this measure does not constitute an impact on the legitimate privacy of citizens. On the contrary, it postulates that the establishment of a verified identity behind each line generates an environment of greater security for the users themselves and for society as a whole, by significantly hindering the operation of criminal networks that depend on anonymity. The organization’s conclusion is that identity traceability is a fundamental component for a reliable and secure telecommunications infrastructure in the digital era.
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