Mexico telecom regulator extends phone registration deadline

Mexico’s Comisión Reguladora de Telecomunicaciones (CRT) announced a prórroga for the mandatory registration of mobile lines, introducing a staggered calendar that runs from mid‑August to the end of December 2026. The deadline for each number is determined by its final digit – for example, numbers ending in 0 must be registered by 15 August, those ending in 9 by 31 December.

The measure, aimed at linking each line to a user’s CURP to curb extortion, fraud and other crimes, will affect roughly 144 million active lines nationwide. As of 25 June 2026, 63 million lines – 40.2 million prepaid and 22.8 million post‑paid – had already been registered. Lines that miss their deadline will be suspended for 72 hours; only emergency calls, civic alerts and operator contact will remain possible until registration is completed.

Operators are responsible for the registration process and data protection. AT&T reported linking 9 million of its 24 million subscribers, mainly post‑paid users, while prepaid registration remains the major challenge. Officials stress that data will be kept by the carriers, with government access limited to criminal investigations. Concerns about personal data security have been raised, prompting calls for robust encryption and clear handling rules.