About the Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones (IFT)
The Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones (IFT) is a Mexican regulatory body responsible for overseeing telecommunications and broadcasting services in the country. Established in 2013, it has been working for nearly a dozen years to ensure fair competition and transparency in these sectors. The IFT’s role is crucial as it aims to protect consumer interests and promote innovation.
IFT’s Financial Performance in Q1 2025
In the first quarter of 2025, the IFT collected a total of approximately $984.77 million (18,809.4 million Mexican pesos) from the use and exploitation of radio frequency spectrum, including the issuance and renewal of concession titles as well as various telecommunications and broadcasting-related trades. These funds were directed to the Federal Treasury (Tesofe).
Revenue Distribution
Over a decade, the IFT has collected around 180.9 billion Mexican pesos (approximately $9 billion USD) for the Federal Treasury. These resources have reportedly been used by the government for infrastructure projects and social programs.
Processing Requests
During the period of January to March 2025, the IFT received 40,747 requests related to concessions and services. Out of these:
– 39,435 requests were resolved
– 1,312 are currently being addressed
Compared to the 2,775 pending requests at the end of Q4 2024, the IFT managed to address 2,399 requests in Q1 2025. However, 210 requests remain pending within their legal timeframe, and 166 have exceeded this limit, classifying them as backlog.
Budget Execution
The IFT’s 2025 budget was initially set at 500 million Mexican pesos (approximately $24.6 million USD). By the end of March, they had utilized around 210.7 million Mexican pesos (approximately $10.3 million USD), which accounts for about 41.86% of their total budget. The Mexican Chamber of Deputies reduced the IFT’s budget by 70% for this fiscal year.
- Expenditure Breakdown:
- 199.59 million Mexican pesos (approximately $9.8 million USD) for personnel services, salaries, and related costs
- 10.58 million Mexican pesos (approximately $0.5 million USD) for operational and investment expenses
- Fideicomiso Balance: At the end of Q1 2025, the IFT’s fideicomiso (trust fund) stood at approximately 2,886.15 million Mexican pesos (approximately $141.9 million USD). Of this amount:
- 1,171.87 million Mexican pesos (approximately $57.6 million USD) were allocated for ongoing projects and programs
IFT’s Financial Stability
The IFT has confirmed that it has sufficient resources to pay the salaries of its approximately 1,300 employees until mid-July.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the IFT? The Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones (IFT) is a Mexican regulatory body responsible for overseeing telecommunications and broadcasting services.
- How much did the IFT collect in Q1 2025? The IFT collected approximately $984.77 million (18,809.4 million Mexican pesos) in Q1 2025.
- How many requests were processed, and how many are pending? The IFT processed 39,435 requests and has 1,312 pending, with 210 exceeding the legal timeframe.
- What is the IFT’s budget for 2025, and how much has been utilized? The IFT’s 2025 budget is 500 million Mexican pesos (approximately $24.6 million USD), with approximately 210.7 million Mexican pesos (approximately $10.3 million USD) utilized by the end of March.
- What is the current status of the IFT’s fideicomiso? At the end of Q1 2025, the IFT’s fideicomiso stood at approximately 2,886.15 million Mexican pesos (approximately $141.9 million USD), with 1,171.87 million Mexican pesos (approximately $57.6 million USD) allocated for ongoing projects and programs.
