Recent developments regarding the transition of Mexico's telecommunications homologation authority from the Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT) to the new "Coordinación de Regulación de Telecomunicaciones" (CRT) have created a period of uncertainty for manufacturers seeking type approval for radio devices.
Earlier reports from late September indicated a hard deadline, with the IFT's homologation department expected to cease accepting applications on September 26th. It was understood that the IFT would suspend services for up to 15 days to facilitate the transition, with the new CRT handling all applications submitted just prior to the cutoff. This news also suggested significant delays were likely, as very few IFT staff members were expected to transfer to the new CRT.
However, in a surprising turn of events, as of October 1st, the IFT has confirmed that it will continue to accept new applications as usual. Our local agents in Mexico have verified this in person at the IFT's document reception area.
While this provides a temporary window for submissions, key questions remain unanswered:
- How long will IFT continue accepting applications? It is widely believed this period will last until the CRT officially begins operations, but a firm date for this has not yet been announced.
- Will certificates be issued during this interim period? It is currently unclear if applications submitted now will be processed and approved by the IFT, or if they will be held for review by the CRT once it is operational.
What we can confirm is that both the testing laboratories and existing Certification Bodies in Mexico are continuing their operations normally. This ensures that the testing and initial certification stages of the homologation process are not interrupted.
What This Means for You
There is currently a window of opportunity to submit applications to the IFT, but manufacturers should be prepared for potential delays in the issuance of final certificates.
Eleos Compliance is in constant communication with our local partners and will continue to monitor the situation closely. We are committed to navigating this transition and will provide immediate updates as more information becomes available. We advise clients with pending projects for Mexico to proceed with submitting their applications to secure a place in the queue.
Eleos Compliance offer international RF, EMC, Safety and Green type approval services for radiocommunications products. Eleos Compliance are a sustainable, values-based business combining extensive experience in the wireless homologation sector with outstanding project management. For full support with your global market access requirements or regulatory intelligence needs please contact us at enquiries@eleoscompliance.com
