- From January 9, 2026, all mobile lines in Mexico must be linked to a natural or legal person through official documents.
- Companies will have 30 days to enable registration platforms and 120 business days to complete the linking of all their lines.
- Unregistered lines will be suspended: they will only be able to call emergencies and support services until they are registered.
- The registry aims to combat extortion and telephone fraud, although it raises questions about costs, privacy and possible impact on tariffs.
La Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (CRT) has given the green light to one of the most profound reforms of the mobile sector in Mexico: starting in January 2026, the country will launch a national registry of cell phone lines which will effectively put an end to the anonymous use of SIM cards. Every line must be verifiably linked to a natural or legal person.
The measure is part of a broader strategy to public safety and the fight against crimeespecially against extortion and telephone fraud. The new system will require the collection and validation of identity data from millions of users, a process that, according to the CRT itself, will be carried out under personal data protection rules similar to those already applied in postpaid contracts.
How will the new mobile phone registry work in Mexico?
The core of the reform is clear: No mobile line may operate without being associated with an identified ownerThe CRT has approved guidelines that require operators to link each number — whether prepaid, postpaid, physical SIM or eSIM — with an officially recognized identity.
According to the regulatory body, the registry will enter into force on January 9, 2026From that date, all companies providing service in Mexican territory must ensure that each line has the information of its owner or legal representative duly registered in their systems.
The CRT emphasizes that this new register is not intended to create a centralized public database, but formalize and standardize the registration that companies already carry out for postpaid services, extending it mandatorily to prepaid and any other modality that operates in the country.
The regulator maintains that this policy is inspired by international practices aimed at strengthening trust in mobile telephony to improve the traceability of communications when there is a judicial investigation involved.
Key dates: start of registration and deadlines for users and operators
The roadmap designed by the CRT establishes an implementation sequence with defined deadlines for both companies and customers. This makes the first semester of 2026 in a particularly sensitive period for the sector.
First, the guidelines were unanimously approved by the regulator's plenary session and Its publication in the Official Gazette of the Federation marked its entry into forceFrom there, the internal timelines for technical deployment and mass user registration are activated.
The major operators —Telcel, AT&T, Telefónica (Movistar) and Altán Redes— they will have an initial period of 30 days to develop, adapt, and install the necessary technological platforms. These tools will be used to collect, validate, and store data from mobile line owners.
Once that technical phase is complete, the decisive stage will begin: a period of 120 business days so that companies can finish registering all active lines on their networks. Taking both deadlines into account, the deadline for users to complete the process is approximately... June 2026, from which point the service of non-linked lines will begin to be suspended.
What data and documents will be required to register a line
To comply with the new obligation, users will need to provide official documentation that allows verification of your identityThe CRT has detailed the type of information required according to the profile of the line holder.
Brianda Mexican individualsThe registration will be based on two main elements: the Unique Population Registry Code (CURP) and a valid official identificationThis could be a voter ID card or passport. This information will be used to uniquely link the line to the user.
For foreigners using Mexican airlinesThe key document will be the passport. In the case of moral peopleIn addition to the basic information of the legal representative, the following will be required: Federal Taxpayer Registry (RFC) and the documentation that proves the legal existence of the entity.
Telecommunications companies will be able to collect this information through customer service centers, digital channels, or specific registration platforms which must be enabled during the adaptation period. The process will be similar to the one already used for contracting a postpaid plan, but will be extended to the entire portfolio of active lines, including prepaid ones.
What will happen to lines that are not registered on time?
One of the most sensitive points of the new system is the set of consequences for those who do not complete the process. The CRT has been explicit: Lines that are not linked to an identity within the specified timeframe will be suspended..
According to the guidelines, after the maximum period of 120 business days from the start of registration, operators must interrupt mobile call, text and data service Those numbers that remain without an identified owner will not be able to be used regularly.
The regulations stipulate, however, that the suspended lines retain their capacity during that limited period make calls to emergency numbersCitizen services and the operator's own customer service department to manage the correct registration.
Before implementing the suspension, companies will be required to inform users repeatedly through SMS messages and other notification channels. These communications must clearly remind users that it is necessary to complete the line linking process to avoid blocking.
If the user decides to regularize their situation after the suspension, they will be able to regain full use of the number provided that you provide the required documentation and that the operator so contemplates in its commercial policies.
Stated objective: to combat extortion and strengthen security
According to the authorities, the impetus for this census responds to the need to reduce the use of anonymous phone lines in the commission of crimesTelephone extortion and fraud through calls and messages are some of the crimes that the federal government directly associates with the ease with which SIM cards can be acquired without identification.
Data from Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System They point to thousands of extortion victims in just a few months, a figure interpreted as an indication of the significant role mobile communications play in criminal activity. The regulator maintains that the traceability of registered lines It will facilitate research and discourage the purchase of chips for illicit uses.
The CRT frames the measure within a discourse that aims at the “restoring confidence in mobile telephony”The idea is that, by reducing anonymity, it will be more difficult for malicious actors to operate from the shadows and take advantage of regulatory gaps or the informal sale of SIM cards.
However, several analyses warn that Massively registering millions of lines does not, in itself, guarantee an automatic drop in crime.In the public debate, questions are already being raised about the real effectiveness of the registry against criminal organizations that could adapt or seek alternative means.
Economic, technical and user privacy impact
The rollout of this national registry represents a significant effort for the sector. The CRT itself has calculated that The total investment could exceed 4.053 billion pesos, a figure that encompasses the development and operation of platforms, as well as the validation of identities.
According to estimates released by the regulator, about 22 million pesos They will be allocated to the technological development of the necessary infrastructure, while around 4.031 million pesos will correspond to the processes of identity verification and management of the register itself.
This additional cost opens the door to possible adjustments to mobile phone ratesAlthough the CRT has not announced price increases, some voices in the sector anticipate that part of the economic effort could be passed on, directly or indirectly, to users in the form of new commercial conditions.
Regarding privacy, the regulator insists that The data collected will remain in the custody of the operatorsIn compliance with the Federal Law on the Protection of Personal Data Held by Private Parties, the public authority would not have direct access to the registry, but only through specific requests within the framework of investigations or legal proceedings.
Despite these guarantees, civil organizations and data protection experts point out that Such a large registry always carries risks., both due to potential security breaches and misuse of information if rigorous controls and audits are not applied.
Users required to register and practical recommendations
The obligation to link the lines is not limited to new contracts: This applies to all mobile phone users operating in Mexico.regardless of the type of service or the origin of the SIM card.
This scheme includes the customers of prepaid and postpaid plans, holders of Physical SIMs and virtual eSIMsas well as those who use chips acquired abroad but connect to Mexican networks while in the country.
They must also comply with the companies that manage corporate linesThey will have to properly identify and register the phone numbers they provide to their employees or collaborators. Where applicable, they will need to provide the corresponding tax and legal documentation.
To avoid problems, the general recommendation is that users Check with your operator if your line is already listed as associated with an identity —something common in postpaid contracts— and, if not, that they prepare for registration by gathering the CURP and the necessary official identification in advance.
The companies, for their part, will send periodic notices To customers whose lines still lack complete data, reminding them of the obligation to complete the procedure and the possible consequences of not doing so within the established timeframes.
With this new registry, Mexico takes a decisive step towards a fully identified mobile phone modelIn this phase, the purchase and use of a mobile line will no longer be anonymous. The initiative aims to improve the security and traceability of communications, but at the same time raises challenges regarding costs, digital inclusion, and the protection of personal data, which will remain very much present as 2026 approaches.
