Introduction to the Agency of Digital Transformation and Telecommunications (ATDT)
The newly established Agency of Digital Transformation and Telecommunications (ATDT) has reported savings of 2,500 million pesos through the review, cancellation, or renegotiation of technology contracts. This move is part of a strategy focused on technological autonomy, aiming to address public issues using internal capabilities.
Key Achievements and Future Goals
- Savings: The ATDT has saved the federal government 2,500 million pesos by optimizing technology contracts.
- Simplification: The agency has simplified 1,666 procedures and digitized 117, with a goal to optimize 2,309 procedures by 2025.
- National Simplification Law: The ATDT aims to reduce public requirements and processing times in half by 2030 through a National Simplification Law.
The ATDT’s Technological Autonomy
The ATDT’s technological autonomy is built on four pillars:
- An updated federal data center in Aguascalientes, with a second one under construction.
- A software factory with 300 specialists, mostly from public technological institutions.
- A Directorate General of Cybersecurity.
- A national code archive for transparency and reusing solutions.
Simplification Before Digitalization
According to José Merino, the ATDT director, the agency follows a specific sequence: simplification first, then digitalization. The goal is to shorten processing times and requirements before migrating procedures online.
- 1,666 procedures have been simplified so far.
- The target for 2025 is to optimize 2,309 procedures.
- 945 redundant procedures have been eliminated or merged, and 117 have been digitized.
In parallel, the redesign of procedures has condensed redundant processes from 1,666 to 721 unique cases and reduced the average number of requirements from six to four, along with shorter attention times.
Shared Solutions: Ventanilla Digital Nacional de Inversiones and Plataforma Nacional de Registros Civiles
Merino highlighted two examples of shared solutions: the Ventanilla Digital Nacional de Inversiones and the Plataforma Nacional de Registros Civiles.
- The Ventanilla Digital Nacional de Inversiones is a national digital investment window that prevents duplication by using a national catalog of procedures and aims to have one file per project.
- The Plataforma Nacional de Registros Civiles is interconnected with the 32 states and the consular network, allowing remote corrections of books and acts through payment gateways.
The platform has 5.7 million users and serves as a foundation for national digital identity.
Governance of Key Projects
Merino clarified the governance of crucial projects within the federal government and other authorities:
- Digital Payments: The central authority for digital payments is Banco de México, with lessons from CoDi and Dimo, as well as international references like PIX (Brazil) and India’s case.
- Unique Identity: The Renapo, part of Segob, is responsible for unique identity after modifications to the General Population Law. The ATDT provides technical support and cybersecurity assurance, supported by its data center and Cybersecurity Directorate.
Spectrum Discounts and Future Connectivity Plans
Merino previewed a spectrum discount scheme for coverage, which will be implemented by the telecommunications regulator, the Comisión Reguladora de Telecomunicaciones (CRT).
He also mentioned that the satellite project is advancing in technical definition (band, size, needs) and that further details will be announced later.
Beyond announcements, the ATDT aims to centralize critical capabilities (data, public cloud, security, development) to reduce unnecessary purchases, harmonize procedures, and scale fragmented services among:
- An average of 523 state procedures and 144 municipal procedures per demarcation with misaligned regulations and requirements.
By 2030, the ATDT aims to reduce federal procedures by half, cut requirements in half, and halve attention times. Merino believes that combining simplification, digital identity, and public code reuse should enable 80% of interactions with authorities to have a digital alternative without canceling the in-person option.
