Mexico’s mandatory mobile phone registration policy is facing one of its most critical moments. With 53 days remaining until the official deadline to link cell phone lines to the Unique Population Registry Code (CURP) and an official ID, progress remains minimal, and the risk of mass disconnection is growing.
According to recent data, only 28.3 million lines have been registered, compared to a total of 161.7 million reported by the end of 2025. This means that only 17.5 percent of users have completed the process, while 82.5 percent remain in non-compliance.
The low participation rate has raised concerns among telecommunications specialists, who consider it virtually impossible to reach the target before June 30.
“The implementation of mandatory mobile phone registration in Mexico has gained prominence on the public and regulatory agenda, especially given the low number of registered lines,” stated Ernesto Piedras, CEO of The Competitive Intelligence Unit (The CIU).
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How many mobile phone lines remain unregistered in Mexico?
The operational challenge is enormous. To complete the registration before the deadline, more than 1.75 million lines would need to be registered daily for the next few weeks.
According to Ernesto Piedras, the current pace makes meeting the established schedule impossible.
“To achieve this goal, more than 1.75 million lines would need to be registered daily between now and June 30th of this year; this is impossible,” the expert warned.
He even estimated that, if the current trend continues, the process could take at least two years to complete and cover the more than 160 million active lines in the country.
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The potential for widespread non-compliance also raises concerns about its economic and operational implications for telephone companies.
One of the most vulnerable segments is prepaid, which represents more than 83 percent of the Mexican mobile market. This model is characterized by high user and line turnover, a situation that further complicates updating personal data and mandatory registration.
Experts warn that applying the mechanism retroactively and with a fixed deadline could lead to the suspension of millions of active lines, an unprecedented scenario for the industry.
“Given this imminent and unprecedented disconnection of such a large volume of millions of lines that have not completed registration, it warrants questioning the need to apply the regulatory mechanism retroactively,” Piedras added.
How to register your phone line in Mexico?
Users can still register their mobile phone line both in person and online.
The process can be completed directly at branches of phone companies such as Telcel, Movistar, AT&T, or Bait, as well as through the digital portals enabled by each operator.
To complete the mandatory registration, you only need:
CURP (Unique Population Registry Code)
Valid official ID
An active phone line
Authorities and telecommunications companies continue to urge users to complete the process before the deadline to avoid possible restrictions or disconnections of mobile service in Mexico.
Source: ejecentral
