Starting January 9, 2026, all cell phone lines in Mexico must be registered and linked to an individual or legal entity; otherwise, service may be suspended by telephone companies.
The measure was approved by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (CRT) and will apply to both new and existing lines, including prepaid lines, which currently account for the majority of users in the country.
Mandatory cell phone line registration begins in January 2026. The measure aims to eliminate anonymity on SIM cards and mobile lines, a practice that, according to authorities, has facilitated crimes such as extortion and telephone fraud.
Although no fines are currently planned, telephone companies will be authorized to temporarily block lines that are not associated with a valid identity. The number will not be canceled, but it cannot be used until the user completes the corresponding registration process.
Why might your cell phone line be suspended?
The goal of the registration is to combat crimes such as extortion and telephone fraud, which are often committed from unregistered numbers.
By not registering their number, users lose access to the service, as companies must comply with the regulations approved by the CRT (Telecommunications Regulatory Commission) and maintain a record of all active lines in the country.
What changes with mandatory cell phone registration?
The main change is that each cell phone number will have an identified owner. This already applies to postpaid lines, but it will now also be extended to prepaid lines, which are the most widely used in the country.
The intention is to prevent lines from being used without leaving a trace and to give authorities more tools to investigate crimes committed via telephone, without affecting the daily use of the service.
Requirements to register a cell phone line in 2026
The process will be simple and will be carried out directly with the telephone company. The required documents will depend on whether the line is registered to an individual or a company.
For individuals, the following will be required:
Voter ID or passport
CURP (Unique Population Registry Code)
For legal entities (companies):
Federal Taxpayer Registry (RFC)
This information will not be submitted to a public database. The data will be protected by the telephone companies, under current personal data protection regulations.
Who does this apply to and when does it take effect?
Registration will be mandatory nationwide and will take effect the same day it is published in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF). From that date, the process will formally begin, and operators must implement the mechanisms to register lines.
Although the official start date is January 9, 2026, it is expected that companies will inform customers in advance how and when they should register their existing lines.
Source: msn
