Introduction to the Mobile Phone Line Registration Process
Ricardo Castañeda, the Director General of Regulatory Policy at Mexico’s Comisión Reguladora de Telecomunicaciones (CRT), reported that less than 2% of mobile phone lines have been registered. This translates to approximately three million lines linked to their respective owners out of 158 million total lines in the country.
Background on the Registration Initiative
On December 8, 2025, the CRT approved new guidelines for mobile phone line identification. Starting January 9 of this year, each line was to be linked to a physical or legal person. This measure aims to eliminate anonymity that enables misuse of the service for criminal activities.
Geographical Distribution and Participation
Due to population concentration, greater participation has been observed in major cities like Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, and Querétaro.
Current Status and Future Outlook
Castañeda mentioned that over three million lines have been linked to their users, and the process is progressing well. He emphasized the significant response from citizens to undertake this registration, crucial for enhancing security and trust in mobile services.
- Current Registration Status: Approximately 1.9% of total lines have been registered.
- Expected Increase: The CRT anticipates an increase in registrations as the June 30 deadline approaches.
- Registration Timeline: The process is described as a gradual curve, with citizens becoming aware and understanding the measure until the June deadline.
Consequences of Non-Registration
Castañeda clarified that if a user fails to register by the June deadline, their service will be temporarily suspended starting July 1. The line will only function for receiving early warnings, calling emergency numbers, or contacting the operator to initiate the linking process.
- Service Suspension: Users will not lose their phone number or credit but cannot send, receive messages, make calls, or use data services until the linking is completed.
- Data Protection: The CRT ensures that phone line information will be safeguarded by telecom operators and comply with the Federal Law on the Protection of Personal Data in Private Hands.
Identification Requirements
According to the guidelines, physical persons need to provide their voter ID or passport and Curp (Unique Register of Population) to link their lines. Legal entities must present their RFC (Federal Taxpayer Registration).
