GSMA seeks Mexico mobile line registration deadline review

TL;DR: GSMA Latin America director Lucas Gallito formally asked the Mexican government to review the deadline for mandatory mobile line registration after January 2026 rules set a process that could suspend unregistered lines from 1 July. The industry group said just over 50 million lines have been registered against a regulatory target of 144 million. El Financiero reported in early May that 82.5% of Mexico's mobile lines, about 133 million, were still unregistered.

GSMA, through its Latin America director Lucas Gallito, formally asked the government of Mexico to review the deadline for mandatory mobile line registration in comments reported by Milenio. Gallito said the current timetable does not match the operational reality of Mexico and called for a more pragmatic approach to the registration process.

GSMA said the current pace is insufficient against the regulatory target. The group said just over 50 million mobile lines have been registered, while the target is 144 million. According to data published by El Financiero in early May, 82.5% of mobile lines in Mexico, around 133 million, had not yet been registered. Under the current schedule, service to unregistered users would be suspended from 1 July.

GSMA also asked for a broader sector-wide strategy beyond a deadline extension. Gallito said authorities and telecom companies need aligned procedures to reduce friction and improve public trust in how personal data is handled. The Mexican government made the registration mandatory in January 2026 to build a reliable census and combat crimes including phone extortion, fraud, and virtual kidnapping by linking each SIM card to the user's CURP. The Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones (IFT) has so far ruled out an extension.

Related questions

• What deadline did GSMA ask Mexico to review for mobile line registration?
• How many mobile lines in Mexico had been registered versus the 144 million target?
• When could unregistered mobile lines in Mexico be suspended?
• Why did Mexico make mobile line registration mandatory in January 2026?