Mexico’s 2026 SMS Regulations: Core Rules and Compliance Tips

If you plan to launch SMS marketing campaigns in the Mexican market, understanding the local legal boundaries is the key to success. In Mexico, data privacy and user respect have evolved from professional ethics into mandatory market regulations.

I.Mobile Line Identification Guidelines

(Lineamientos para la Identificación de Líneas Telefónicas Móviles)

Core Overview

The Mexican Federal Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (CRT) has issued new guidelines for mobile line identity registration, requiring all mobile numbers (both prepaid and postpaid) to be registered and linked to a natural person or a legal entity using valid identity credentials (such as CURP or RFC). This regulation will take effect on January 9, 2026, marking Mexico’s full entry into mandatory mobile number real-name registration.

Practical Compliance Guidelines

1. All SMS sending numbers must be real-name registered

• Any number, Sender ID, or SMS route used for enterprise bulk messaging must already be registered and bound to the company’s legal identity (e.g., company RFC or legal representative’s CURP).
• Numbers that are not properly registered may be suspended or permanently deactivated by carriers.

2. Complete the real-name verification process with carriers

• Before purchasing or leasing SMS numbers or routes, enterprises should confirm with carriers:
  • What corporate documents are required,
  • What identity information must be submitted,
  • How the verification records will be stored and audited in their systems.

3. Ensure consistency between recipient identity and phone number

• If SMS is used to trigger user actions (such as registration, OTP verification, or KYC processes), the system should be able to technically collect and verify the consistency between the user’s identity and the phone number.

2. Federal Telecommunications and Broadcasting Law

(Ley Federal de Telecomunicaciones y Radiodifusión, LFTR)

Core Overview

This law is the fundamental legal framework governing telecommunications and broadcasting services in Mexico. After the 2025 reform, it serves as the main regulatory foundation and clearly defines telecommunications networks and services (including SMS services) as regulated public services.

Practical Compliance Guidelines

1. Numbers and service providers must meet licensing requirements

• When sending bulk SMS through third-party providers, enterprises must confirm that the provider holds valid telecommunications service authorization or agency qualifications to avoid illegal operation risks.

2. Service quality and operator obligations

• Carriers and service providers must comply with the law’s user protection obligations, including network quality and fair channel usage.
• These obligations directly or indirectly affect SMS delivery rates and complaint handling mechanisms.

3. Regulations on spectrum, network usage, and competition

• Any behavior involving self-deployed wireless resources (such as private SMS gateways or SIM-box / SIM farm devices) must be reviewed carefully to ensure it does not constitute illegal telecommunications infrastructure under the current LFTR licensing and network deployment regulations.

3. Federal Consumer Protection Law

(Ley Federal de Protección al Consumidor)

Core Overview

This law is enforced by PROFECO (Federal Consumer Protection Agency) and aims to protect consumers from unfair commercial practices, including unsolicited or harassing marketing and promotional SMS messages.

Practical Compliance Guidelines

1. Implement an opt-out / unsubscribe mechanism

• All promotional SMS messages must provide a clear and simple opt-out method, such as replying “STOP” or clicking an unsubscribe link.

2. Avoid sending harassing messages

• If a user has explicitly refused to receive messages (for example, by being listed in the “Do Not Call / Do Not Advertise Registry – REPEP”), enterprises must not send marketing SMS to that user.

3. Sending time restrictions

• PROFECO recommends sending marketing messages only between 09:00 and 20:00 local time, unless the user has explicitly agreed to receive messages outside this time window.

4. Clear disclosure of sender identity

• Marketing SMS must clearly identify the sender and provide valid contact information (such as company name and customer service phone number), to avoid being considered deceptive or harassing due to lack of transparency.

  

II. Three Main Bulk SMS Solutions in Mexico

There are three primary channels for sending SMS in the Mexican market:

1. Dedicated Short Code (5-digit)

A unique 5-digit sequence exclusive to one client. Commonly used for banking OTPs and large-scale e-commerce marketing.

2. Shared Short Code

A 5-digit number shared by multiple clients. Lower cost and ideal for small to medium enterprises.

3. International Long Code

Displays in a standard phone number format; primarily used for one-way notifications.

III. 5 Restricted Marketing Activities

1. Political Campaigns

Strictly prohibited. Due to the 2026 Real-Name Policy, violations will lead to the immediate banning of the associated registered corporate account.

2. Religious Content

Mexican law prohibits the dissemination of religious doctrines or related activities via SMS channels.

3. Adult/Illegal Content

Pornography, racial discrimination, or any content constituting defamation or fraud is strictly forbidden.

4. Unregistered Finance

Carriers (such as Telcel) require financial institutions to contract directly with the operator. Sending banking info through unauthorized third-party channels is prohibited.

5. Spam Criteria

Sending more than 10 messages to the same number within a minute could be considered high-frequency spam.

IV. Compliance Case Studies: What to Avoid

Case 1: Prohibited Timeframes

• Content: "Midnight Special! 50% off if you order now." (Sent at 2:00 AM)
• Violation: Marketing SMS may only be sent during daytime/business hours (transactional alerts like billing notifications are exempt).

Case 2: Impersonating Government / Identity Fraud

• Content: "[SAT Important Notice] Your tax account is abnormal."
• Violation: Impersonating the Tax Administration Service (SAT). Under the 2026 policy, such actions are traced directly back to the registered sender for legal prosecution.

Case 3: No Opt-in

• Content: Sending "Welcome back" to an unregistered user.
• Violation: Lack of active subscription records. If a user complains and the sender cannot produce proof of consent, they face heavy fines.

V. Pricing and Recommendations

In Mexico, bulk SMS pricing generally depends on volume and the chosen channel (Dedicated vs. Shared Short Code). Unit prices for high-volume sending typically range from 0.50 MXN to 0.90 MXN, depending on the provider.

Expert Recommendations:

• Real-Name Verification: Ensure all sending accounts are registered per the 2026 regulations. If you need assistance completing this internationally, contact uSpeedo Support.
• Identity Transparency: Clearly include your company name within the SMS template.
• Maintain Records: Always keep user Opt-in records on file for auditing purposes.

For further technical inquiries, please reach out to the uSpeedo Technical Operations Team.