Mexico's mobile phone registration deadline ends June 30, risking service loss for millions

Mexico's telecom regulator, the Comisión Reguladora de Telecomunicaciones (CRT), confirmed that the deadline to register mobile phone numbers is 30 June, with no extension planned. Lines that are not linked to the official registry by that date will be temporarily suspended from 1 July, retaining only access to emergency services (911), seismic alerts and the operator's help line.

Official data show that out of roughly 144.5 million active lines, only 51.9 million have been registered, leaving more than 92 million users in jeopardy. The suspension will block data, calls and SMS, effectively disabling platforms that rely on SMS verification such as WhatsApp, social media, government services and banking apps. The CRT warned that unregistered numbers will "no podrán navegar con datos móviles, realizar llamadas convencionales o enviar mensajes de texto".

Experts note that the short timeframe creates systemic risks for daily economic activity, especially for prepaid users. Concerns about personal data handling persist, with critics recalling prior failed attempts at a national registry in 2009 (Renaut) and 2021 (Panauten). Registration requires a CURP, a photo ID and applies to both prepaid and postpaid lines, with a limit of ten numbers per person; corporate lines are registered by the companies themselves. Some specialists suggest authorities might extend the deadline to avoid over‑loading the system, but no official change has been announced.