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 achievement is part of a strategy focused on technological autonomy, addressing public issues with internal capabilities.
Director José Merino’s Achievements
José Merino, the director of ATDT, presented these accomplishments during the Mexico Digital Summit 2025. He highlighted that the federal government has saved 2,500 million pesos by adjusting technology contracts. This strategy aims to achieve technological independence and resolve public problems using internal resources.
Four Pillars of Technological Autonomy
Merino explained that the ATDT’s technological autonomy relies on four key components:
- An updated federal data center in Aguascalientes, with a second one under construction.
- A software factory employing 300 specialists, mostly from public technological institutions.
- A Directorate General of Cybersecurity.
- A national code archive for transparency and reusing solutions.
Merino praised his team as “the best technological team” he has ever worked with.
Simplification Before Digitalization
Merino emphasized that the ATDT follows a specific sequence: simplification first, followed by digitalization. The goal is to shorten processing times and requirements before migrating procedures online.
As of now, 1,666 procedures have been simplified, with a target of 2,309 by 2025. Within this progress, 945 procedures have been eliminated or merged due to redundancy, and 117 have already been digitized.
Simultaneously, the redesign of procedures has consolidated redundant processes, reducing the number of unique cases from 1,666 to 721 and the average number of requirements from six to four, with reduced attention times.
National Law for Eliminating Bureaucratic Procedures and Corruption
The National Law for Eliminating Bureaucratic Procedures and Corruption serves as the foundation of the national model, which includes:
- A single simplification authority per level of government.
- A decalogue of principles, such as avoiding documents already in the government’s possession.
- Standardized catalogs.
- A national system for citizen attention.
- Digital records.
- Proprietary technological capabilities with software reutilization across governments.
Ventanilla de Inversiones and National Civil Registry: Two Showcases
Merino provided examples of shared solutions, such as the Digital National Investment Window, which is already operational and designed to prevent duplications through a national catalog of procedures. Soon, it will offer a single file per project.
Another example is the National Platform for Civil Registers (miregistrocivil.gob.mx), interconnected with the 32 states and consular network, enabling remote corrections of books and acts through payment portals.
The platform has accumulated 5.7 million users and aims to establish a national digital identity.
To support this deployment, the ATDT promotes the National Center for Public Technology, a repository of code with implementation and training support, and a Technology School for Public Servants with three routes: programming, telematique, and cloud computing, considering the heterogeneity of capabilities in states and municipalities.
Identity, Payments, and Connectivity: Who’s in Charge of What
Merino clarified the governance of key projects within the federal government and other authorities.
In digital payments, the central authority is Banco de México, learning from CoDi and Dimo projects and international references like PIX (Brazil) and India’s case.
The ATDT envisions linking digital payments to a unique digital identity, but regulatory and operational details fall under the central bank’s jurisdiction.
Regarding unique identity, Merino reminded that Renapo (part of Segob) is responsible after modifications to the General Population Law. The ATDT acts as technical support and cybersecurity guarantor, backed by its data center and Cybersecurity Directorate.
He mentioned that the new data center’s investment is “not very burdensome.”
In cybersecurity, the agency operates through three lines: incident attention and prevention, a national threat intelligence platform, and a national notification, reporting, and escalation protocol.
Merino specified that, generally, cybersecurity will be provided by the authority itself, although some departments with complex systems might require “additional blinding.”
Discounts on Radioelectric Spectrum
In terms of connectivity, Merino previewed a discount scheme for spectrum coverage, a matter to 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 proposes a change in technological governance: centralizing critical capabilities (data, public cloud, security, development) to reduce unnecessary purchases, harmonize procedures, and scale fragmented services.
The goal by 2030 is to have 50% fewer federal procedures, half the requirements, and half the attention time. Merino believes that combining simplification, digital identity, and public code reutilization should enable 80% of interactions with authorities to have a digital alternative without canceling the in-person option.
In Merino’s words, the aim is for technology to “shift power towards people,” with simpler procedures, reusable services, and public security of infrastructure. The challenge will be maintaining this implementation pace and coordinating across three government levels to translate the promise of efficiency and equity into citizen experience.
