CRT National Spectrum Program Sets Mexico’s Path Through 2030

Mexico’s New Five-Year Spectrum Policy Framework

On May 18, 2026, Mexico published the National Radio Spectrum Program 2026-2030 (Programa Nacional de Espectro Radioeléctrico, PNER) in the Diario Oficial de la Federación (DOF). Issued jointly by the Agencia de Transformación Digital y Telecomunicaciones (ATDT), the Comisión Reguladora de Telecomunicaciones (CRT), the Instituto Nacional de los Pueblos Indígenas (INPI) and the Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público (SHCP), the CRT National Spectrum Program sets the public policy framework for spectrum management through 2030. It forms part of the National Development Plan 2025-2030 and positions the radio spectrum as a strategic state asset to be managed efficiently, equitably and in the public interest.

Three Core Objectives of the CRT National Spectrum Program

The CRT National Spectrum Program is built around three priorities. First, it promotes telecommunications and broadcasting infrastructure deployment, tasking the CRT with identifying and harmonizing IMT frequency bands and requiring coverage obligations in future spectrum tenders to be realistic and measurable. Second, it directs the ATDT and CRT to support sustainable telecommunications and broadcasting projects for Indigenous and Afro-Mexican communities through targeted regulatory programs. Third, it modernizes spectrum management by introducing shared and dynamic spectrum use, expanding satellite services, launching regulatory sandboxes, and strengthening monitoring against harmful interference.

Closing the Gap with ITU Standards

Mexico currently has approximately 695 MHz of mobile spectrum in use, well below the 1,280 MHz that the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) recommends for optimal network capacity. The Program sets yearly targets to close this gap:

• 2026: 765 MHz
• 2027: 805 MHz
• 2028: 905 MHz
• 2029: 1,005 MHz
• 2030: 1,095 MHz

Even after reaching the 2030 target, Mexico would still fall about 185 MHz short of the ITU benchmark. The government will track progress using three indicators: the growth in mobile frequencies assigned, the expansion of antennas and fiber-optic infrastructure in underserved rural municipalities, and the share of Indigenous communities successfully operating their own communication projects.

Upcoming CRT Spectrum Auctions

The CRT has indicated it will hold three spectrum auctions in 2026 under the new Program: one for fixed microwave service, one for industrial networks, and one for mobile services, including 5G.

Key Takeaways

• The CRT National Spectrum Program gives certification teams a clear five-year roadmap for spectrum reallocation, useful for planning equipment homologation and frequency band updates.
• The three 2026 CRT auctions (fixed microwave, industrial networks, mobile/5G) are near-term events worth tracking for frequency planning.

Source

https://www.dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5787695&fecha=18/05/2026