Mexico is undergoing one of the most significant overhauls of its telecommunications regulatory framework in decades. The recently enacted EMI Laws and reforms to the
Federal Law on Telecommunications and Broadcasting are transforming how the industry is governed, streamlining oversight, and introducing new compliance standards for operators and digital services across the country.
At the center of these changes is the dissolution of the Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFETEL), the autonomous regulatory body that has overseen the sector since 2013. IFETEL’s regulatory authority, often viewed as both comprehensive and bureaucratically complex, is now being split between two newly created entities: the Telecom Regulatory Commission (CRT) and the Agency for Digital Transformation & Telecom (ATDT).
The new regulatory model reflects the government’s strategy to adapt to the rapid technological convergence of telecommunications, digital platforms, and broadcasting.
CRT (Telecom Regulatory Commission) will assume responsibility for traditional telecom and broadcasting oversight. Its mandate covers spectrum allocation, licensing, antitrust enforcement within the telecom market, and ensuring service quality and fair competition across operators. In many ways, this represents the structural continuation of IFETEL’s core regulatory role, but with added authority to fast-track licensing and sanction non-compliance.
ATDT (Agency for Digital Transformation & Telecom), by contrast, will focus on emerging digital issues. This includes cybersecurity standards, online content governance, digital inclusion programs, and oversight of how telecom operators integrate new technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence, and cloud infrastructure. The ATDT also has a mandate to monitor digital market practices, particularly in relation to data privacy and consumer protection.
This dual approach is designed to address both the “legacy” concerns of physical telecom infrastructure and the fast-moving challenges of the digital economy.
The updated legislation introduces several notable reforms:
- Expanded Regulatory Authority – Both CRT and ATDT gain extended powers to establish binding compliance frameworks, with stricter penalties for anti-competitive practices and breaches related to consumer rights.
- Compliance and Reporting Requirements – Telecom operators, broadcasters, and digital service providers will now be required to submit regular compliance reports to both agencies. These include network performance metrics for CRT and digital data governance evaluations for ATDT.
- Enhanced Consumer Protections – The laws mandate greater transparency in service contracts, requiring plain-language disclosures on pricing, data usage, and service limitations. Consumers are also given new channels for grievance resolution directly with the agencies.
- Digital Transformation Oversight – By formally recognizing new categories like over-the-top (OTT) services and cloud-based telecom tools, Mexican law is adapting to the reality of converged services and blurred industry boundaries.
Industry Implications
Mexico’s updated regulatory landscape puts greater responsibility on electronic component manufacturers to prevent, monitor, and remedy EMI issues. Manufacturers of electronic components (such as drivers and wireless controllers) that potentially generate electromagnetic interference (EMI) face implications under Mexico’s new EMI laws and the revised Federal Law on Telecommunications and Broadcasting. The introduction of new regulatory agencies—CRT (Telecom Regulatory Commission) and ATDT (Agency for Digital Transformation & Telecom)—will impact manufacturers’ obligations and compliance operations.
Image: http://www.jisim-tech.com
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