Mexico Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Publication Date: December 2024

Report Pages: 258

Analyst: Henry Lancaster

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Summary
Table Of Contents

High charges dissuade Mexico’s MNOs from upcoming 5G spectrum auction

Mexico’s telecom sector retains significant potential for growth, given the population of more than 131 million and relatively low fixed and mobile penetration rates. The market is still dominated by the incumbent Telmex and by Grupo Televisa, though since 2013 measures have been enforced which are aimed at removing barriers to foreign investment and at increasing market competition. The regulator in mid-2023 extended the concessions held by América Móvil's units Telmex and Telnor for 30 years, though since the units are still considered dominant operators they must abide by regulations aimed at curbing this dominance, and to universal service and coverage obligations.

In the fixed broadband sector significant changes are underway, with the main cable TV providers Megacable and Grupo Televisa widening their bundled services offerings, and with some important market consolidation. The fibre sector has shown particularly strong growth during the last two years as the key operators expand their network reach beyond the core urban areas.

The mobile market also continues to undergo considerable changes. The MVNO segment gained significant market share in 2022, having continued to attract investment and having benefited from access to the Red Compartida wholesale mobile network. In addition, the MNOs including AT&T Mexico have ramped up their MVNO offers, which has attracted new players to the market.

The wholesale mobile network operator Altán Redes emerged from bankruptcy in November 2022, while the coverage obligations for its Red Compartida network were revised to 92.2% of the population by early 2028. Altán Redes now has the financial backing of the State, and though it provides access to networks in rural and uneconomic areas, it has no exclusivity and its partners can also augment their coverage through deals with the existing MNOs.

Developments in 5G have been slow, given the existing capacity of LTE and the delay in auctioning 5G-suitable spectrum. Telcel, AT&T, and Movistar (piggy-backing on AT&T’s network) have greatly expanded the reach of their 5G networks, but further development of the sector requires additional spectrum to provide much needed capacity. The high cost of spectrum and ongoing annual spectrum fees discouraged AT&T and Movistar from bidding in the auction expected later in 2023, meaning that potentially only Telcel will bid.

Key developments:

Government’s Internet Para Todos program continues to extend telecom services to the disadvantaged in rural communities.
Regulator faces struggle to attract bidders for late-2023 5G spectrum auction.
CFE Telecom contracts Viasat to provide free satellite broadband connectivity to 850 underserved communities.
Izzi Movil expands connectivity to new states.
Inter-American Telecommunications Commission to consider 3300-3400MHz spectrum for 5G services.
Mexico’s MVNOs broach 10.5 million subscribers.
Report update includes the regulator's market data report to March 2023, telcos' financial and operating data to Q2 2023, regulator’s industry revenue and investment estimates for 2023, updated Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report:

América Móvil (Telcel, Telmex), Megacable, Cablemás, Cablevisión, Grupo Televisa, Maxcom, Sistemas Interactivos de Telecomunicaciones (SIT), Axtel, Megafón, InterCable, CFE, , AT&T Mexico (Iusacell, Nextel Mexico), Movistar (Telefónica Mexico), Globalstar, Unefón, Virgin Mobile, Weex, Alestra, Maxcom, Marcatel.

Key statistics
Regional Latin America Market Comparison

Market characteristics
Market Leaders
Market Challengers
Market Emergents
TMI versus GDP
Mobile and mobile broadband penetration
Fixed versus mobile broadband penetration

Country overview
Telecommunications market

Historical overview
Market analysis
Telecoms reform

Regulatory environment

Regulatory authorities
Fixed-line developments

Privatisation
Deregulation
Foreign investment rules
Fixed number portability

Mobile network developments

Spectrum auctions
Mobile Termination Rate (MTR)
Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
Roaming
Telecom legislative reform
SIM card registration

Mobile market

Market analysis
Mobile statistics
Mobile infrastructure
Digital networks

5G
3G and LTE
GSM

Other infrastructure developments

Open networks
Altán Redes
Satellite mobile
IoT

Mobile data

SMS and MMS

Mobile broadband
Major mobile operators

Telcel
Movistar
AT&T Mexico
Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)

Mobile content and applications

Mobile economy

Fixed-line broadband market

Market analysis and statistical overview
Government support

Municipal broadband

Broadband statistics
Fixed-line broadband technologies

Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) networks
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) network
Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks
Other fixed broadband services

Fixed network operators

Telmex/América Móvil
Megacable
Grupo Televisa

Telecommunications infrastructure

Overview of the national telecom network
National network infrastructure developments
International infrastructure

Submarine cable networks

Smart infrastructure

Smart grid technology
Smart cities
E-Government
E-Commerce
Data centres

Glossary of abbreviations
Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1 – Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities - Mexico – 2023 (e)
Table 2 – Change in the number of employed in the telecom sector – 2011 – 2023
Table 3 – Change in telecom sector’s contribution to GDP – 2011 – 2023
Table 4 – Change in the share of telecom market revenue by sector – 2010 – 2023
Table 5 – Change in telecom revenue and annual growth – 2011 – 2022
Table 6 – Development of fixed-line and mobile sector revenue (MXN billion) – 2010 – 2022
Table 7 – Change in foreign investment in telecoms ($ million) – 2011 – 2022
Table 8 – Overall investment in telecoms – 2013 – 2021
Table 9 – Change in the number of fixed number of portings – 2010 – 2023
Table 10 – Increase in the number of mobile number of portings – 2008 – 2023
Table 11 – Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Table 12 – Change in mobile market share of subscribers by major operator – 2011 – 2022
Table 13 – Development of mobile market revenue and investment (MXN billion) – 2011 – 2022
Table 14 – Development of the number of prepaid / postpaid subscribers (million) – 2011 – 2022
Table 15 – Change in the proportion of prepaid / postpaid subscribers – 2011 – 2022
Table 16 – Development of mobile voice traffic – 2013 – 2022
Table 17 – Growth in the number of Movistar’s LTE subscribers and penetration – 2016 – 2019
Table 18 – Decline in SMS traffic – 2013 – 2022
Table 19 – Growth in mobile data traffic – 2015 – 2022
Table 20 – Change in the proportion of mobile data traffic by network technology – 2015 – 2022
Table 21 – Change in the proportion of mobile data traffic by network provider – 2013 – 2022
Table 22 – Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Table 23 – Change in the market share of mobile broadband subscribers by operator – 2014 – 2022
Table 24 – Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers by main operator (million) – 2013 – 2022
Table 25 – Growth in the number of Telcel’s subscribers and annual change – 2011 – 2023
Table 26 – Development of Telcel’s churn, monthly minutes of use and ARPU – 2011 – 2023
Table 27 – Change in the number of Telcel’s prepaid and contract subscribers (million) – 2009 – 2023
Table 28 – Development of Telcel’s wireless revenue – 2010 – 2023
Table 29 – Growth in the number of Movistar’s mobile subscribers (million) – 2011 – 2022
Table 30 – Movistar minutes of use and ARPU – 2008 – 2019
Table 31 – Development of Movistar’s mobile service revenue (€ million) – 2011 – 2019
Table 32 – Development of Movistar’s financial data (€ million) – 2014 – 2022
Table 33 – Development of AT&T Mexico’s revenue – 2015 – 2023
Table 34 – Change in AT&T Mexico’s mobile ARPU – 2018 – 2023
Table 35 – Growth in the number of AT&T Mexico’s mobile subscribers (million) – 2011 – 2023
Table 36 – Change in the number of Megacable’s mobile subscribers – 2020 – 2023
Table 37 – Growth in the number of Izzy Mobile’s subscribers – 2020 – 2023
Table 38 – MVNO share of the mobile market by subscribers – 2014 – 2022
Table 39 – Change in the number of mobile subscribers by main MVNO – 2014 – 2022
Table 40 – Change in the proportion of broadband lines by data rates – 2014 – 2022
Table 41 – Change in the number of fixed broadband lines by data rates – 2013 – 2022
Table 42 – Growth in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Table 43 – Change in market share of broadband subscribers by operator – 2014 – 2022
Table 44 – Change in market share of broadband subscribers by platform – 2014 – 2022
Table 45 – Growth in the number of cable modem broadband subscribers – 2011 – 2022
Table 46 – Growth in the number of Megacable’s fixed broadband subscribers – 2011 – 2023
Table 47 – Change in Megacable’s internet ARPU (MXN / month) – 2011 – 2023
Table 48 – Growth in the number of Cablemás’s cable modem subscribers – 2011 – 2023
Table 49 – Change in the number of Televisa’s RGUs by sector (thousand) – 2016 – 2023
Table 50 – Growth in the number of Cablevisión’s cable broadband subscribers – 2009 – 2023
Table 51 – Decline in the number of DSL broadband subscribers – 2011 – 2022
Table 52 – Growth in the number of Infinitum’s DSL subscribers – 2011 – 2023
Table 53 – Growth in the number of FttP broadband subscribers – 2013 – 2022
Table 54 – Decline in the number of wireless broadband subscribers – 2013 – 2023
Table 55 – Change in the number of satellite broadband subscribers – 2013 – 2022
Table 56 – Change in market share of fixed lines by operator – 2014 – 2022
Table 57 – Change in the number of Telmex’s fixed-line RGUs – 2009 – 2023
Table 58 – Decline in the number of Telmex’s fixed-line subscribers – 2014 – 2023
Table 59 – Development of Telmex’s revenue, EBITDA (MXN billion) – 2009 – 2023
Table 60 – Growth of Megacable’s revenue by sector (MXN million) – 2010 – 2023
Table 61 – Growth in the number of Megacable’s fixed-line subscribers – 2012 – 2023
Table 62 – Decline in Megacable’s fixed-line telephony ARPU – 2012 – 2023
Table 63 – Growth in the number of Televisa’s telephony subscribers – 2016 – 2023
Table 64 – Development of Televisa’s financial data (MXN million) – 2017 – 2023
Table 65 – Change in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2012 – 2027
Table 66 – Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 2000 – 2010
Table 67 – Historic - Proportion of prepaid / postpaid subscribers – 2000 – 2010
Table 68 – Historic - DSL broadband subscribers – 2001 – 2010
Table 69 – Historic - Mobile market share of subscribers by major operator – 2001 – 2010
Table 70 – Historic - Mobile market revenue – 2001 – 2010
Table 71 – Historic - Telecom revenue and annual growth – 1998 – 2010
Table 72 – Historic - Internet users and annual change – 2000 – 2018
Table 73 – Historic - Dial-up internet subscribers – 2000 – 2012
Table 74 – Historic - Fixed-line broadband subscribers – 2003 – 2010
Table 75 – Historic - Average fixed-line traffic per line – 2014 – 2016
Table 76 – Historic - Market share of fixed line traffic by operator – 2014 – 2016
Table 77 – Historic - Telecom sector contribution to GDP – 2004 – 2010
Table 78 – Historic - cable modem broadband subscribers – 2001 – 2010
Table 79 – Historic - Fixed lines in service, annual change and teledensity – 1996 – 2010
Table 80 – Historic - Megacable cable modem subscribers – 2001 – 2010
Table 81 – Historic - Cablemás cable modem subscribers – 2002 – 2010
Table 82 – Historic - Cablemás financial data (MXN million) – 2012 – 2014
Table 83 – Historic - Telcel subscribers and annual change – 2000 – 2010
Table 84 – Historic - AT&T Mexico subscribers – 2000 – 2010
Table 85 – Historic - Infinitum DSL subscribers – 2002 – 2010
Table 86 – Historic - Cablevisión cable broadband subscribers – 2002 – 2010
Table 87 – Historic - Decline in SMS traffic – 2006 – 2010
Table 88 – Historic - Growth in the number of Movistar’s mobile subscribers – 2001 – 2010
Table 89 – Historic - Development of Movistar’s financial data (€ million) – 2006 – 2010
Table 90 – Historic - Change in Megacable’s ARPU (MXN / month) – 2007 – 2010
Table 91 – Historic - Development of Telcel’s churn, monthly minutes of use and ARPU – 2008 – 2010

List of Charts

Chart 1 – Latin America Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Leaders
Chart 2 – Latin America Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Challengers
Chart 3 – Latin America Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Emergents
Chart 4 – Latin America - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per capita
Chart 5 – Latin America – Mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 6 – South America mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 7 – Central America – mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 8 – South America – Fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 9 – Central America – Fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 10 – Change in the number of employed in the telecom sector – 2011 – 2023
Chart 11 – Change in the share of telecom market revenue by sector – 2010 – 2023
Chart 12 – Change in telecom revenue and annual growth – 2011 – 2022
Chart 13 – Development of fixed-line and mobile sector revenue – 2010 – 2022
Chart 14 – Overall investment in telecoms – 2013 – 2021
Chart 15 – Change in the number of fixed number of portings – 2010 – 2023
Chart 16 – Increase in the number of mobile number of portings – 2009 – 2023
Chart 17 – Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Chart 18 – Change in mobile market share of subscribers by major operator – 2011 – 2022
Chart 19 – Development of mobile market revenue and investment – 2011 – 2022
Chart 20 – Development of the number of prepaid / postpaid subscribers – 2011 – 2022
Chart 21 – Change in the proportion of prepaid / postpaid subscribers – 2011 – 2022
Chart 22 – Development of mobile voice traffic – 2013 – 2022
Chart 23 – Growth in the number of Movistar’s LTE subscribers and penetration – 2016 – 2019
Chart 24 – Decline in SMS traffic – 2013 – 2022
Chart 25 – Growth in mobile data traffic – 2015 – 2022
Chart 26 – Change in the proportion of mobile data traffic by network technology – 2015 – 2022
Chart 27 – Change in the proportion of mobile data traffic by network provider – 2013 – 2022
Chart 28 – Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Chart 29 – Change in the market share of mobile broadband subscribers by operator – 2014 – 2022
Chart 30 – Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers by main operator – 2013 – 2022
Chart 31 – Growth in the number of Telcel’s subscribers and annual change – 2011 – 2023
Chart 32 – Change in the number of Telcel’s prepaid and contract subscribers – 2009 – 2023
Chart 33 – Development of Telcel’s wireless revenue – 2010 – 2023
Chart 34 – Growth in the number of Movistar’s mobile subscribers – 2011 – 2022
Chart 35 – Development of Movistar’s mobile service revenue (€ million) – 2011 – 2019
Chart 36 – Development of Movistar’s financial data (€ million) – 2014 – 2022
Chart 37 – Development of AT&T Mexico’s revenue – 2015 – 2023
Chart 38 – Growth in the number of AT&T Mexico’s mobile subscribers – 2015 – 2023
Chart 39 – MVNO share of the mobile market by subscribers – 2014 – 2022
Chart 40 – Change in the number of mobile subscribers by main MVNO – 2014 – 2022
Chart 41 – Change in the proportion of broadband lines by data rates – 2014 – 2022
Chart 42 – Change in the number of fixed broadband lines by data rates – 2013 – 2022
Chart 43 – Growth in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Chart 44 – Change in market share of broadband subscribers by operator – 2014 – 2022
Chart 45 – Change in market share of broadband subscribers by platform – 2014 – 2022
Chart 46 – Growth in the number of cable modem broadband subscribers – 2011 – 2022
Chart 47 – Growth in the number of Megacable’s fixed broadband subscribers – 2011 – 2023
Chart 48 – Change in Megacable’s internet ARPU – 2011 – 2023
Chart 49 – Growth in the number of Cablemás’s cable modem subscribers – 2011 – 2023
Chart 50 – Change in the number of Televisa’s RGUs by sector – 2016 – 2023
Chart 51 – Growth in the number of Cablevisión’s cable broadband subscribers – 2009 – 2023
Chart 52 – Decline in the number of DSL broadband subscribers – 2011 – 2022
Chart 53 – Growth in the number of Infinitum’s DSL subscribers – 2011 – 2023
Chart 54 – Growth in the number of FttP broadband subscribers – 2013 – 2022
Chart 55 – Change in market share of fixed lines by operator – 2014 – 2022
Chart 56 – Change in the number of Telmex’s fixed-line RGUs – 2009 – 2023
Chart 57 – Development of Telmex’s revenue, EBITDA – 2013 – 2023
Chart 58 – Growth of Megacable’s revenue by sector – 2014 – 2023
Chart 59 – Growth in the number of Megacable’s fixed-line subscribers – 2012 – 2023
Chart 60 – Development of Televisa’s financial data (MXN million) – 2017 – 2023
Chart 61 – Change in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2012 – 2027

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1 – Map of Telecom Maturity Index global ranking among countries in Latin America
Exhibit 2 – Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 3 – Latin America – Market Leaders and market developments
Exhibit 4 – Latin America – Market Challengers and market developments
Exhibit 5 – Latin America – Market Emergents and market developments
Exhibit 6 – Distribution of spectrum by band
Exhibit 7 – Distribution of mobile spectrum by licensee – 2023

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Mexico Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Purchase this Report

High charges dissuade Mexico’s MNOs from upcoming 5G spectrum auction

Key developments:

Companies mentioned in this report:

Key statistics

Regional Latin America Market Comparison

Country overview

Telecommunications market

Regulatory environment

Mobile market

Fixed-line broadband market

Fixed network operators

Telecommunications infrastructure

Smart infrastructure

Glossary of abbreviations

Related reports

Purchase this Report

Share this Report

TMT Intelligence

A platform to scale your intelligence tasks

Research Methodology

Hot Topics

News & Views