Mexico - Fixed-Line Market and Infrastructure - Overview and Statistics

Synopsis

Mexico’s growth in fixed lines has been steadily declining for the past eight years, from 13% in 2000 to 4% in 2008. In 2007, in fact, the number of subscribers declined. Thus teledensity continues to hover at approximately 19%, around average for Latin America. In addition, there are significant disparities in fixed-line penetration between urban and rural areas. Despite liberalisation, Telmex still dominates the fixed-line market with around 90% of lines. Mexico remains the last country in the OECD yet to unbundle its local loop. In mid-2008 Telmex spun off its international operations, keeping the lion’s share of the company’s debt and releasing its international operations from its domestic operations. In addition, VoIP is rapidly gaining popularity although its growth will remain constrained by relatively low broadband penetration. This report provides brief profiles of the main fixed network operators, together with statistical data and an overview of Mexico’s telecom infrastructure.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
  
• 2. Fixed network operators
  
  • 2.1 Overview of operators
    
    • 2.1.1 Local telephony
      
    • 2.1.2 Long-distance domestic and international telephony
      
  • 2.2 Teléfonos de México (Telmex)
    
  • 2.3 Alestra
    
  • 2.4 Axtel
    
    • 2.4.1 Avantel
      
  • 2.5 Maxcom
    
  • 2.6 Marcatel
    
• 3. Telecommunications infrastructure
  
  • 3.1 National telecom networks
    
  • 3.2 International infrastructure
    
    • 3.2.1 Terrestrial networks
      
    • 3.2.2 Submarine cable networks
      
    • 3.2.3 Satellite networks
      
  • 3.3 Infrastructure developments
    
    • 3.3.1 Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
      
    • 3.3.2 Next Generation Networks (NGNs)
      
    • 3.3.3 Wireless Local Loop (WLL)
      
• 4. Related reports
  

• Table 1 – Fixed lines in service, annual change and teledensity – 1996 - 2008
• Table 2 – Telmex lines in service and annual change - 1997 - 2008
• Table 3 – Alestra lines in service by sector and annual change - 1999 - 2007
• Table 4 – Axtel lines in service and annual change - 2002 - 2007
• Table 5 – Maxcom lines in service and annual change - 2001 - 2008

• Exhibit 1 – Fixed-line local telephony licence holders
• Exhibit 2 – Fixed-wireless local telephony licence holders
• Exhibit 3 – Long-distance licence holders
• Exhibit 4 – Telmex at a glance
• Exhibit 5 – Major submarine cable networks landing in Mexico