New Regulatory Structure for Telecommunications

Mexico's telecommunications sector is set for a significant transformation with the scheduled dissolution of the Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT) in July 2025. A new legislative framework will replace it, establishing a dual regulatory system. National policy will be managed by the new Agency for Digital Transformation and Telecommunications (ATDT), while technical oversight will fall to the newly created Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (CRT). The CRT will assume the IFT's critical function of homologation (type approval) for all telecommunications and broadcasting equipment.

For manufacturers and importers, the new law ensures business continuity. Crucially, all homologation certificates previously issued by the IFT will remain legally valid until their specified expiration date. Furthermore, any applications that are in process when the transition occurs will not be canceled; they will be legally transferred to the new CRT for continued processing and finalization.

While these measures provide legal certainty, companies should anticipate the possibility of administrative delays as the new agencies get established.

It is vital for all stakeholders to be aware of the IFT's final operational timeline. The institute will follow its approved 2025 calendar, which includes a vacation period starting Monday, July 21, 2025. Consequently, the effective final day for submitting any new applications or administrative filings to the IFT is Friday, July 18, 2025. This mid-July deadline should be considered firm.

In a key development, the mandatory implementation of the "IFT Seal" has been officially postponed by two years, moving from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2027. This decision provides manufacturers with significant relief from the new labeling requirement. However, it also transfers the full responsibility for defining future marking rules to the new CRT, creating a long-term uncertainty that will require careful monitoring.

To ensure a smooth transition, the existing technical framework, including NOM standards, is expected to remain stable in the short term. Furthermore, accredited third-party laboratories and certification bodies will continue their operations as normal.

To navigate these changes, manufacturers should prioritize finalizing all IFT submissions by the week of July 14, 2025, and incorporate extra time into project timelines to account for potential processing backlogs at the newly formed CRT. All companies must remain vigilant and monitor official publications for new procedural guidelines as the CRT begins its work.