Since January 9, 2026, each mobile phone line in Mexico must be clearly associated with a first and last name (or the name of a company). The government presented new regulations as a central element in the fight against extortion and telephone fraud, crimes that have for years relied on the ease of activating disposable numbers. The new regulations, published in early December by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (CRT), are not a completely new idea: in postpaid plans, where users pay a fixed monthly rate for minutes and data, owner identification was already a common requirement. The difference now is that the rule becomes universal. It doesn’t matter if it’s a monthly plan or a balance top-up at a convenience store. Each number will have an identified and validated owner, without exception.
The decision does not come in a vacuum. This occurs in the midst of President Claudia Sheinbaum’s crusade against extortion, a crime that has become daily for thousands of people. Official figures reflect this: between July and November this year, at least 59,283 people called 089 to report telephone extortion attempts. Another 9,400 people directly indicated the numbers from which the crime was attempted. Behind these files lie insistent calls, threats and a feeling of impunity.
When does registration start?
The new rule comes into effect on January 9, 2026. Telephone company Telcel has indicated that the linking process can be carried out nationwide in person and remotely (although if this is not achieved within three attempts, the person must present themselves at the customer service center). The company will also provide users with a consultation portal to check if there is a telephone line linked to a CURP (individuals) or RFC (legal entities).
The limit to connect the line is until June 29, 2026, a day later all lines that are not linked will be suspended, Telcel detailed.
Requirements
According to the guidelines published by the CRT, the matching process includes the submission of the following documents.
For natural persons:
- Voting title (INE);
- Passport;
- Biometric CURP.
For legal entities:
The government has indicated that operators will be responsible for storing information about people and must ensure the protection of personal data.
What happens if a line is not saved?
The guidelines allow mobile operators to suspend or block lines that are not properly connected in accordance with defined deadlines and mechanisms.
Mandatory mobile line identification is a regional trend that has been gaining ground in Latin America over the past decade. Countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Peru have implemented regulatory frameworks that require operators to verify the identity of users before activating a line, in many cases through detailed records including official documents, real-time validations and even biometric data, such as fingerprints or photographs.
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