Mexico is strengthening its efforts to close the digital divide through a new partnership between the Federal Telecommunications Promotion Agency (PROMTEL) and satellite communications provider Viasat. The agreement aims to accelerate broadband deployment in underserved communities while supporting smaller telecommunications operators with infrastructure, technical expertise, and digital inclusion initiatives.
The collaboration, announced by both organizations, reflects the federal government’s broader strategy to improve nationwide connectivity and ensure that rural and remote regions gain access to reliable internet services. Signed on July 21, the agreement will remain in force through 2030 and establishes a framework for joint projects focused on expanding telecommunications infrastructure across the country.
Satellite Technology to Reach Underserved Regions
Under the agreement, PROMTEL and Viasat will collaborate on projects designed to improve digital connectivity in areas where terrestrial telecommunications infrastructure remains limited or economically unviable. Satellite technology is expected to play a central role in extending broadband access to communities that have historically lacked reliable internet connectivity.
The partnership also seeks to strengthen Mexico’s telecommunications ecosystem by supporting local and regional operators. According to the companies, both organizations will work together to facilitate knowledge transfer, promote best practices, and encourage the adoption of innovative technologies that improve network performance and service quality.
In addition to infrastructure deployment, the agreement includes cooperation on training programs, technical workshops and initiatives intended to build digital capabilities among telecommunications providers and public institutions. These efforts are expected to contribute to a more competitive and resilient communications sector.
The collaboration demonstrates how public-private partnerships can accelerate digital inclusion while creating opportunities for communities that remain underserved by conventional broadband networks, says Héctor Rivero, Country Manager, Viasat Mexico. Through its satellite platform, Viasat aims to complement terrestrial infrastructure and help bridge connectivity gaps throughout the country.
Connectivity Becomes a National Development Priority
The partnership aligns with the federal government’s broader connectivity agenda, in which PROMTEL has played an increasingly active role. The agency has recently expanded programs designed to encourage investment in telecommunications infrastructure, particularly among small and regional operators that often face financing and deployment challenges.
Earlier this year, PROMTEL announced plans to support hundreds of smaller telecommunications providers through financing mechanisms and technical assistance under its National Strategy for Small Operators (ENPO). The objective is to increase competition, improve service availability and reduce the digital divide by enabling local operators to expand coverage into communities that large carriers often overlook.
The collaboration with Viasat complements these efforts by adding satellite capacity capable of providing broadband access where fiber or mobile networks remain impractical due to geography or deployment costs. The agreement also supports Mexico’s long-term digital transformation goals by encouraging cooperation between the public and private sectors. Beyond expanding internet coverage, both organizations intend to promote innovation, digital literacy and the development of telecommunications solutions that benefit education, healthcare, emergency response and economic development.
As demand for reliable connectivity continues to grow across industries and public services, satellite communications are becoming an increasingly important component of national digital infrastructure. For Mexico, combining terrestrial and satellite technologies could prove essential to achieving universal connectivity targets while ensuring that rural populations are not left behind in the country’s digital transformation.
Agreement Builds on Viasat’s Altán Redes Partnership
The collaboration with PROMTEL builds on Viasat’s previous efforts to combine satellite and terrestrial technologies to expand connectivity in Mexico. In November 2024, Viasat partnered with Mexican wholesale telecommunications operator Altán Redes to launch a home and mobile broadband service aimed at communities with limited conventional telecommunications infrastructure.
The service combined Viasat’s satellite and wireless LTE technologies with Altán Redes’ shared mobile network to provide cellular and internet coverage in underserved areas. At the time of the announcement, the service was available in 13 states and was reported to reach more than 150,000 people.
Viasat said the service could support access to online education, telemedicine, digital communication and electronic commerce. It also offered household modems, portable Wi-Fi devices, and mobile SIM cards, allowing residents to access connectivity through different service formats.
