Mexico's CRT proposes telecom sandboxes amid regulatory pushback

Mexico's Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (CRT) is pursuing new regulatory frameworks, though recent proposals have met significant public resistance.

The CRT has opened a public consultation to establish regulatory sandboxes. These controlled environments would allow companies, universities, and entrepreneurs to test new technologies and business models—such as community internet in rural areas, advanced satellite services, Open RAN mobile networks, and IoT sensors—under supervised, flexible rules before permanent regulations are established. The consultation period runs from August 24 to September 22, 2026.

Separately, a recent analysis by Mexicanos Contra la Corrupción e Impunidad (MCCI) revealed that 82.2% of participants in a public consultation opposed the draft guidelines for the Audience Law. This initiative sought to create a formal mechanism for the public to express grievances regarding content on radio and television stations. Critics and participants expressed concerns that the proposed guidelines could lead to government censorship and restrict freedom of expression.