Up to 8 million lines to be suspended for lack of registration; to test operators' ability to download switches without errors

Starting this Saturday, up to 8.7 million mobile phone lines in Mexico will be suspended due to non-compliance with a government regulation requiring users to link their phone numbers to their CURP or RFC identifiers. This measure aims to combat extortion and fraud by ensuring all mobile lines are registered under real individuals or entities. According to Ernesto Piedras, director of the Competitive Intelligence Unit (CIU) and a member of the advisory council for the former Federal Telecommunications Commission (Cofetel), the suspension will begin on August 15, targeting lines ending in "0" that have not been properly registered. The deadline for registration was originally set for June 30, but the Communications Regulatory Commission (CRT) extended it until December 31, based on the last digit of each phone number. The suspension process involves turning off services except for emergency numbers such as 911 and seismic alert systems. According to Piedras’s estimates, the best-case scenario would see 4 million lines disconnected, while a moderate case could result in 6 million suspensions, and the worst-case scenario might involve up to 8.7 million lines being cut. He emphasized that this action violates the basic right to connectivity guaranteed by Article Six of the Mexican Constitution. The complexity of the task lies in ensuring that only unregistered lines are affected without disrupting those that comply with the regulations. Piedras noted that major operators are likely capable of executing the shutdowns, but he expressed uncertainty regarding the ability of more than 170 virtual mobile network operators (VMNOs), including Addinteli, Altcel, Bait, and Chedraui Móvil, to perform the task effectively. These smaller providers may lack the necessary technical infrastructure to handle the process smoothly. During the first half of the year, 4.9 million users either canceled their postpaid service or stopped adding credit to their prepaid numbers, according to data collected by CIU from operator reports. According to CIU research, approximately 87.4 million mobile lines remain unlinked to user data, out of a total of 157.1 million mobile numbers nationwide. A survey conducted by CIU revealed that 44 percent of respondents were unaware that registration is mandatory or showed little interest in completing the process. When asked by El Gran Diario de México, Telefónica Movistar México stated that during the grace period granted for registration, there has been a slowdown in the registration process, and they are progressing gradually according to the schedule for each group of lines. Movistar explained that estimating the exact number of disconnections is premature, as they expect the registration process to accelerate before the initial cutoff date. They assured customers that once their service is suspended, they can reconnect by following the standard registration procedure. Users will need to visit Movistar's website and navigate to the section titled "Link Your Line," where they can complete the steps required to reactivate their service. During the suspension period, the benefits of existing plans and packages will remain valid according to their original dates, allowing users to continue enjoying them once their line is reactivated. The CRT confirmed that some registrations have already been recorded, though specific figures were not disclosed. As the deadline approaches, the effectiveness of both the regulatory framework and the capacity of telecom companies to implement the policy will come under scrutiny. The situation highlights the challenges faced by both regulators and service providers in enforcing compliance with new telecommunications regulations aimed at enhancing security and reducing fraudulent activities.