On 30 June 2026, the full plenary session of Mexico’s Federal Telecommunications Institute (CRT) formally approved and published the Revised Agreement on Mobile Line Identification Rules. The document was simultaneously published in Mexico’s Federal Official Gazette and serves as supplementary adjustments to the mobile real-name registration system introduced at the end of 2025.
The core objective of this revision is to establish a phased and differentiated implementation timetable for nationwide real-name binding of mobile phone numbers, easing the implementation pressure placed on telecom operators, rural users and microenterprises under the original unified registration deadline. Back in December 2025, the CRT issued basic identification rules mandating that all prepaid and postpaid mobile numbers be linked to the real identity information of natural persons or legal entities. The policy aims to eliminate anonymous mobile numbers and curb crimes such as telecom fraud, extortion and unlawful communications. Operators will suspend services for numbers failing to complete real-name registration on time.
The original rules required full registration of all numbers starting January 2026. Industry players and operators in remote communities reported major implementation challenges. Drawing on industry feedback collected during public consultations, the revised text introduces tiered grace periods. Separate deadlines are defined for four categories: existing legacy numbers, newly activated numbers, dedicated IoT lines and cross-border roaming lines. It clarifies that natural persons may register using voter credentials, passports or personal tax IDs, while enterprises must submit federal taxpayer registration documents; the list of valid identity documents has also been refined.
The revised document further defines the statutory obligations of telecom operators. Operators are required to launch multi-channel real-name verification channels both online and offline, and simplify registration procedures for rural and indigenous communities. Extended transition periods are granted to small and medium-sized telecom service providers and IoT enterprises to balance regulatory security and industry operating costs. According to the CRT, once the real-name identification system is fully implemented, judicial authorities will be better able to trace the source of illegal communications and strengthen public safety governance. The new staggered-time rules will significantly reduce obstacles to policy rollout and enable the steady nationwide deployment of the real-name registration system.
