22 key events towards a digital Mexico

In digital and telecommunications matters, 2022 was marked by relevant events such as the massive launch of 5G, more severe restrictions on mobility platforms in the country’s airports, the financial restructuring of Altán Redes, the appointment of a new President Commissioner at the helm of the Federal Institute of Telecommunications (IFT) and an increasingly loud clamor for more reasonable prices for the radio spectrum, among other notable events that, like every year-end, I list here.

1. January. The Plenary of the IFT decided, with three votes in favor, that the project for the analysis of Claro TV’s request to offer the pay TV service should be redone and resubmitted. América Móvil had committed an investment of 8 billion pesos in case of receiving authorization to provide restricted TV.
2. February. The IFT approved Telcel’s use of the 3.5 GHz band. The mobile operator had to pay the State around 900 million pesos per year for the use of said band.
3. Within the framework of the T-MEC, the High Level Economic Dialogue (DEAN) and the Bicentennial Understanding, Mexico and the US announced a collaboration in the technology and telecommunications sectors, mainly semiconductors, 5G, cybersecurity and electronic commerce.
4. Telcel presented its 5G network, available as of February 28 in 18 cities in Mexico.
5. Internet platforms stopped the 2% tax on delivery apps in CDMX in court.
6. March. Javier Juárez Mojica took over as Interim President of the IFT, replacing Adolfo Cuevas Teja.
7. IFT redefined the coverage obligations of the Red Compartida of Altán Redes until 2028.
8. The Federal Economic Competition Commission (Cofece) recommended the operation of digital transport platforms at the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA).
9. April. The Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport (SICT) recognized that in Mexico more spectrum is needed for 5G at a lower cost.
10. Hispasat, GlobalSat and CFE Telecomunicaciones e Internet para Todos (CFE TEIT) announced the deployment of free satellite connectivity points in 500 remote areas of Mexico.
11. The National Register of Mobile Telephone Users (Panaut), which would collect biometric data from users, was definitively rejected by the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation.
12. AT&T and Telcel paid 855 million 72 thousand 479.73 pesos, around 42.2 million dollars, for the exploitation of various regional blocks in the 1.9 GHz band for twenty more years.
13. June. CFE Telecommunications and Internet for All announced an investment of 8 thousand 710 million pesos to provide 4G mobile services.
14. Altán Redes announced a new financing agreement between its creditors for 388.1 million dollars to continue its operation. The loan was granted by the National Bank of Foreign Trade (Bancomext), Nafinsa and the National Bank of Public Works and Services (Banobras). IFT authorized the investment concentration of the government and the shareholders of Red Compartida. Carlos Lerma took over as the new General Director of Altán Redes.
15. Julio. The National Telecommunications Association (Anatel), whose General Director is Gabriel Székely, celebrated two decades of accompanying and promoting digital transformation in Mexico.
16. August. The deputy of Morena, Laura Imelda Pérez Segura, presented an initiative to allow the operation of transport platforms such as DiDi, Uber and Cabify in the airports of Mexico.
17. CFE Telecomunicaciones e Internet para Todos began to offer mobile telephone and Internet services.
18. September. Senator Cora Pinedo Alonso sent an initiative to reform the Federal Rights Law to change the charges for annual spectrum rights. It was not successful.
19. October. They hack the Secretary of National Defense (Sedena) and the Secretary of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation.
20. Rogelio Jiménez Pons, Undersecretary of Transport of the SICT, announced that in 2023 there could be an agreement so that the annual prices of the radio spectrum decrease.
21. The IFT announced that in 2023 it will make available up to 7,750 MHz of radio spectrum in millimeter bands for the deployment of 5G networks.
22. December. Telefónica Movistar presented its fifth generation network.

Twitter: @beltmondi