President Claudia Sheinbaum has introduced a new Telecommunications and Broadcasting Law aimed at ensuring internet access for 15 million people in Mexico who currently lack connectivity. The legislative initiative also strengthens user rights, supports community radio stations, and establishes new frameworks for spectrum regulation and competition within the sector.
The proposed law grants the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), through the “Internet for All” program, the ability to provide internet service in underserved areas on equal terms with private companies. It also transfers economic competition oversight to a new Antitrust Commission, and redistributes responsibilities among the Agency for Digital Transformation and Telecommunications (ATDT), the Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transport (SICT), and other relevant institutions.
During her morning press conference, Sheinbaum emphasized that the law draws inspiration from successful models like Brazil’s, allowing private providers or the CFE to cover marginalized regions without hindering commercial operations. The goal, she said, is to ensure universal connectivity without eliminating private sector involvement.
ATDT Director José Antonio Peña Merino explained that 10.2 million people live in areas without coverage, while 4.4 million reside in regions with infrastructure but lack the resources to purchase service. He added that the law will expand access to spectrum for sectors such as education, research, and small businesses, and will ease broadcasting requirements for public and community radio—especially in Indigenous and Afro-Mexican communities.
The initiative also includes measures such as balance portability between providers, access to unlocked devices, removal of unused wiring, and mandatory blocking of mobile signals in prisons. An autonomous collegial body, separate from ATDT and composed of five counselors ratified by the Senate, will be created to ensure technical independence and effective sector regulation.
