Introduction to the Agencia de Transformación Digital y Telecomunicaciones (ATDT)
The Mexican government recently modified the Internal Regulations of the Agencia de Transformación Digital y Telecomunicaciones (ATDT). The changes, published on September 3, 2025, represent a restructuring of institutional competencies, the introduction of a new regulatory body (the Comisión Reguladora de Telecomunicaciones, CRT), and the initiation of key components outlined in the new Ley en Materia de Telecomunicaciones y Radiodifusión (LMTR).
ATDT’s Role and the New Regulatory Landscape
Under the original regulations, issued on January 24, 2025, the ATDT, led by José Antonio Peña Merino, was tasked with driving digital inclusion policies, government digital transformation, data management, interoperability, and overall telecommunications and radiodiffusion policies for the federal government. This broad mandate placed a diverse set of technical, operational, and public policy functions under the ATDT’s purview.
Key Changes in the September 2025 Reform
The recent reform maintains the overall framework but introduces significant alterations:
- Incorporation of CRT as an administrative body under ATDT: The CRT now serves as the technical decision-making organ for regulatory matters, while the ATDT focuses on public policy, program design, and coordination/supervision tasks.
- Redistribution of competencies: The ATDT’s strategic responsibilities, such as issuing the National Connectivity and Internet Access Plan, are expanded. Simultaneously, regulatory responsibilities are reframed for the CRT or other coordinations, though they remain part of the ATDT.
- Enhanced roles in satellite matters and spectrum planning: The ATDT’s responsibilities in satellite policy (availability, continuity, and administration of capacity) and spectrum planning are emphasized, working in coordination with the CRT.
- Multiple derogations: Several article fractions, sections of articles 18, 21, and 22 were removed or relocated, indicating a comprehensive revision of the ATDT’s institutional map.
Conditional Implementation and Colombian Influence
The reformed regulations’ effectiveness hinges on the integration of the CRT’s full Plenum. Many LMTR-related mentions and attributions will only take effect the day after the CRT Plenum is established, creating uncertainty as there’s no publicized timeline for the CRT’s formation.
This reform mirrors Colombia’s regulatory structure, where the Comisión de Regulación de Comunicaciones (CRC) operates as an administrative unit attached to the Ministerio de Tecnologías de la Información y las Comunicaciones (MinTIC) with technical independence and regulatory competencies over communication markets.
The CRT in Mexico, similar to the CRC in Colombia, will be a technical regulator under a ministerial department (in this case, the ATDT), aligning with an autonomous yet ministerial structure – a “Colombian-style” regulation in Mexico.
Implications and Future Outlook
The ATDT reform is a practical interpretation of the LMTR, redistributing functions and establishing a technical regulator (CRT) while leaving strategic public policy direction to the ATDT. The real market impact, user experience, and competition will depend on political-administrative factors, primarily the appointment by President Sheinbaum and Senate ratification of CRT members dominated by Morena.
Beyond institutional redesign and commissioner appointments, the speed and direction of Mexico’s digital ecosystem and telecommunications sector development over the next decade are at stake.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the ATDT? The Agencia de Transformación Digital y Telecomunicaciones (ATDT) is a Mexican government agency responsible for digital transformation, data management, interoperability, and telecommunications policies.
- What changes were introduced by the September 2025 reform? The reform incorporated the Comisión Reguladora de Telecomunicaciones (CRT) as an administrative body under ATDT, redistributed competencies between ATDT and CRT, emphasized ATDT’s roles in satellite matters and spectrum planning, and made multiple derogations to the original regulations.
- Why is this reform significant? This reform mirrors Colombia’s regulatory structure, creating a “Colombian-style” regulation in Mexico. It redistributes functions, establishes a technical regulator (CRT), and leaves strategic public policy direction to the ATDT.
- When will these changes take effect? Many LMTR-related mentions and attributions will only take effect the day after the CRT Plenum is established, creating uncertainty due to the lack of a publicized timeline for CRT formation.
