Who is José Antonio Peña Merino?
José Antonio Peña Merino is the head of Mexico’s Agency for Digital Transformation and Telecommunications. His role involves overseeing the development and implementation of digital transformation strategies, as well as telecommunications policies in Mexico.
The Need for Legislative Change
Peña Merino announced the removal of modifications to Article 109 in the Federal Telecommunications Law as part of a new regulatory framework. The primary goal is to ensure internet connectivity for at least 15 million Mexicans who currently lack effective access.
Current Internet Access Situation in Mexico
According to Peña Merino, approximately 10 million people live in areas without 4G coverage, while another 4.4 million reside in areas with signal but cannot afford the service. In total, around 15 million Mexicans remain disconnected.
- Limited 4G coverage in rural areas: Only 26% of localities with fewer than 200 residents have internet access.
- High cost of mobile data: Mexico has the highest per-gigabyte cost for mobile data among comparable countries, at $5.22 USD per GB, compared to Egypt’s $0.52 USD per GB.
Legislative Changes and Their Impact
The reform separates the functions of the Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT) into two distinct areas: regulation of telecommunications will remain under the IFT, while economic competition will be managed by a new Antimonopoly Commission under the Secretariat of Economy.
El titular de la Agencia de Transformación Digital y Telecomunicaciones, José Antonio Peña Merino, confirmó la eliminación de la modificación del artículo 109 de la Ley Federal de Telecomunicaciones.
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Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main focus of the new regulatory framework? The primary goal is to ensure internet connectivity for at least 15 million Mexicans who currently lack effective access.
- What are the current challenges with internet access in Mexico? Approximately 10 million people live in areas without 4G coverage, while another 4.4 million reside in areas with signal but cannot afford the service. Additionally, Mexico has one of the highest per-gigabyte costs for mobile data among comparable countries.
- How does the legislative change address these challenges? The reform separates the functions of the Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT) into regulation of telecommunications and economic competition. Regulation will remain under the IFT, while competition will be managed by a new Antimonopoly Commission under the Secretariat of Economy.
