The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (CRT) and the National Antimonopoly Commission (CNA) signed an inter-institutional agreement to coordinate the Biennial Review of Preponderance Measures in Mexico’s telecommunications and broadcasting sectors. The agreement, signed by CRT President Norma Solano Rodríguez and CNA President Andrea Marván Saltiel, establishes a framework for collaboration aimed at evaluating and, if necessary, modifying or eliminating existing regulatory measures to safeguard competition and market access.
Under this arrangement, both agencies will share updated information, technical opinions, and documentation through defined coordination mechanisms and electronic channels. The goal is to ensure more effective oversight of dominant market players and maintain equitable conditions for industry participants.
The CNA retains authority to identify Preponderant Economic Agents and impose measures related to market concentration, monopolistic practices, and potential asset divestitures. Meanwhile, the CRT oversees spectrum management, grants and revokes concessions, and regulates telecommunications and broadcasting services. Together, their coordination is expected to shape how competition policy is enforced in a sector historically dominated by a few key players.
Currently, Grupo Televisa is designated as the preponderant agent in broadcasting, while América Móvil holds that status in telecommunications. The Biennial Review will determine whether existing asymmetrical regulations on these firms remain appropriate or require adjustment.
Background: New Regulatory Structure
This agreement comes amid a major institutional shift in Mexico’s regulatory landscape. The Telecommunications and Broadcasting Law, published on July 16, 2025, repealed the 2014 framework and dissolved the Federal Institute of Telecommunications (IFT), an autonomous regulator that had overseen the sector for over a decade.
The IFT’s responsibilities were split between the Agency for Digital Transformation and Telecommunications (ATDT), a federal executive body, and the CRT, which operates as a technically autonomous entity under the ATDT. This restructuring has sparked debate over the true independence of the new regulatory model.
On Oct. 14, 2025, the Senate ratified President Claudia Sheinbaum’s appointments to the CRT’s five-member board. The commissioners will serve staggered terms ranging from three to seven years, with Norma Solano Rodríguez presiding over the body. However, opposition lawmakers raised concerns about the commission’s autonomy. Critics argued that the proximity of several appointees to the executive branch could open the door to political influence, censorship risks, or weakened regulatory enforcement.
The IFT formally ceased operations on Oct. 17, 2025, marking the end of an institution that had positioned itself as an independent guarantor of competition, connectivity, and user rights.
Beyond domestic concerns, the reform has drawn attention at the international level. Analysts warn that eliminating an independent regulator could conflict with obligations under the USMCA, which requires impartial oversight in telecommunications. A centralized regulatory structure may be perceived as undermining fair competition, potentially exposing Mexico to disputes with its trade partners.
More broadly, experts caution that the concentration of regulatory power could erode investor confidence. Institutional trust, transparency, and regulatory certainty are critical factors for attracting private capital, particularly in infrastructure-intensive sectors like telecommunications.
Source: https://mexicobusiness.news/infrastructure/news/crt-cna-launch-joint-review-telecom-market-dominance
