IFT’s Impact on Mexican Telecommunications and Government Revenue
The Federal Institute of Telecommunications (IFT) in Mexico, alongside Brazil’s Anatel and Colombia’s CRC, has been one of Latin America’s most innovative regulatory bodies. The IFT ceased operations on October 17, 2025, but its legacy remains. Over twelve years, the IFT worked to halve mobile service prices and double home internet connections in Mexico while expanding radio and television plurality through spectrum licensing.
The IFT was not only a diligent regulator but also an efficient money generator for the Mexican government through its regulatory work, particularly during the governments of the Fourth Transformation (4T). During the IFT’s existence, these governments received 61.74% of the total funds raised by the IFT for the Federal Treasury (Tesofe) through spectrum auctions, concession expeditions and renewals, as well as penalties imposed on regulated companies.
IFT’s Financial Contributions
The IFT generated at least $7,491.31 billion from its regulatory work over seven years coinciding with the presidencies of Andrés Manuel López Obrador and Claudia Sheinbaum. This figure is preliminary, excluding revenues from December 2018 and partial months of July, August, September, and mid-October 2025 when the IFT was still operational.
Throughout its history, the IFT collected approximately 225,455.45 billion pesos (equivalent to $12,132.84 billion at average exchange rates) from January 1, 2014, to June 30, 2025. The governments of the Fourth Transformation utilized 145,298.23 billion pesos ($9,298.64 billion) of this amount, which finances 92.95% of the combined civil works costs reported by the federal government for the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) and the Isthmus of Tehuantepec Interoceanic Corridor (CIIT).
The funds raised by the IFT over its lifetime could finance one year of the Benito Juárez Scholarship Program, which had a budget of around 132 billion pesos ($7.4 billion) in 2025.
IFT’s Budget and Investment Return
The IFT had an accumulated budget of 19,931 billion pesos ($1,106.1 billion) over its twelve years of existence, equivalent to converting every dollar invested by the Mexican government into eleven dollars. The IFT coexisted with Peña Nieto for five years and the Fourth Transformation for seven years. Peña Nieto’s government financed the IFT with $591.85 million, while the Fourth Transformation contributed $514.25 million.
IFT as a Fifth-Generation Regulator
The IFT’s balances are predominantly positive due to consumer-measurable benefits, such as reduced mobile service and internet prices alongside increased coverage and data mobile bundles. Mexico transitioned from 27.4 million broadband mobile lines in 2013 to 127 million mobile internet-enabled cell phones by the first quarter of 2025, making the IFT the regulator of 100 million broadband mobile accesses.
In numbers, Mexico grew from 27.4 million broadband mobile lines in 2013 to 156.5 million cellular accesses by the second quarter of 2025, driven by mobile virtual operators. The IFT regulated a 48.5% decrease in mobile service prices and increased fixed broadband connections from 11.8 million accesses to 28.4 million subscriptions.
The IFT achieved the highest level on the Union International Telecommunication’s (UIT) collaborative regulation thermometer, classifying it as a fifth-generation regulator. Its successor, the Commission Regulatory of Telecommunications (CRT), starts two positions behind for the UIT, a global telecommunications authority.
Challenges for CRT and Mexico’s Future in Telecommunications
The UIT does not consider potential issues Mexico may face when renegotiating the USMCA with the US regarding the configuration of the CRT and the Agency for Digital Transformation and Telecommunications (ATDT).
There are uncertainties about possible industry complaints due to doubts about CRT commissioners’ ability to prove at least three years of distinguished professional experience in telecommunications and broadcasting.
Meanwhile, Brazil’s Anatel and the Dominican Republic’s Indotel take over Mexico’s regulatory leadership in Latin America after the UIT removed Mexico from the top 15 countries with the most innovative regulators, a list dominated by European regulators.
