Mexico’s New Telecom Regulator Plans Up to 50% Spectrum-Fee Discounts Tied to Coverage in 2026

Overview

• The CRT says discounts of up to 50% on spectrum fees would begin in 2026 through the Paquete Económico in exchange for coverage in underserved localities and highway corridors.
• Officials plan to submit implementing provisions to public consultation with the goal of publishing them in the Official Journal of the Federation before year-end.
• The regulator asserts Mexican spectrum costs are 7% below the international average, citing a brief methodological note.
• Former IFT findings and sector analysts, including The CIU with GSMA and OECD references, dispute the assessment and say AWS/PCS, 2.5 GHz and 3.5 GHz bands remain overpriced.
• Operators such as AT&T and Telefónica have returned spectrum citing high fees, and annual spectrum rights revenue fell from 19,980 million pesos in 2019 to 16,776 million in 2024, fueling doubts about pricing policy and the fast rollout timeline.