América Móvil welcomes Sheinbaum's plan to allocate radio spectrum differently.

The telecommunications group América Móvil expressed its support for the Mexican government's willingness to modify the radio spectrum allocation models for mobile internet and telephone services, among others.

América Móvil, which through Telcel is the main contributor in Mexico for the use of radioelectric bands, holding 46.78% of all mobile spectrum licenses in the country, stated that it "agrees" with the new criteria for band allocation proposed by the Presidency of the Republic in the Telecommunications and Broadcasting Bill, since from now on, economic criteria will no longer be the determining factor.

"We are closely monitoring both proposals and providing comments and opinions to congressmen," said Daniel Hajj, CEO of América Móvil, regarding the discussions in Congress on the new economic competition and telecommunications laws.

" I agree with what the bill says about the spectrum . We're giving our opinion and can discuss it in more detail once both laws are enacted. I believe, as the president said, they will be enacted in the next two months," the Telcel chief explained.

The Telecommunications and Broadcasting Bill submitted by the Presidency of the Republic last Wednesday sparked controversy over alleged censorship implications for the broadcasting industry and digital platforms, but also raised eyebrows with the possibility that, after twenty years of insistence from operators , spectrum prices could be more affordable in Mexico.

The bill proposes a more affordable cost for operators seeking to purchase spectrum for commercial services , provided the new prices do not impact the treasury and when companies present plans to increase social coverage and ensure they offer quality services at more affordable prices, primarily.

"Under no circumstances will the economic factor be the determining factor" for the granting of spectrum concessions, states one of the proposed articles in the draft of the new Mexican telecommunications law.

This is positive news for the entire telecommunications and broadcasting industry in Mexico, since, for example, Telcel pays as much money as the equivalent of 6% of its total revenue for a year, just to cover the annual rights payments for using spectrum in mobile services and without accounting for the costs it also incurs when purchasing the band, the so-called "glove" or consideration .

The cost of spectrum is further straining AT&T , which in 2024 paid for spectrum use equivalent to 17.3% of its annual revenue . Telefónica Movistar, for its part, has definitively decided to return all of its licenses to the state, because holding them was stifling its business in Mexico .

Compared to the international average for spectrum prices, Mexico charges 96% more for 2.5 GHz frequencies , which are among the best for 4G mobile internet.

It also prices the 3.5 GHz band, one of the most suitable for building 5G networks worldwide, at a higher price; and the 1.7/2.1 GHz and 1.9 GHz frequencies, the most used for 3G, are also 88% more expensive.

Spectrum is so expensive in Mexico that the return of licenses already entails a cost to the Mexican Treasury of 15.39 billion pesos, or $738 million in nominal terms, which were not collected due to a foolish policy by the State to reconsider the idea of ​​modifying the Federal Rights Law.