Dividing the powers of the IFT harms users and the TMEC

The Senate of the Republic yesterday materialized the extinction of autonomous organizations such as the IFT, highlighting that the functions of the Institute will be sent to two agencies: those related to economic competition to a decentralized entity in the Ministry of Economy, while those related to regulation They will go to the Digital Agency for Digital Transformation.

“Combining the powers of sectoral regulation and economic competition in a convergent regulator has made it possible to implement effective regulation so that Mexicans have better services at a lower price,” the IFT said in a press release.

Specialists have warned that the scheme to separate the powers of the Institute, promoted by Ricardo Monreal, coordinator of Morena in the Chamber of Deputies, goes against trade agreements and puts competition in the sector at risk to the clear detriment of consumers.

The Institute has also warned of the risk that it would bring to the industry if the political is prioritized over the technical. Until now “technical impartiality, budgetary independence and collegiate decision-making have given way to regulation in a context in which there are concessionaires with public participation that operate telecommunications networks and provide these services in the country, without compromising compliance with international agreements to which the Mexican State is subscribed.”

To avoid distortions in the industry, the regulator has expressed its support for the development of secondary laws that are key to maintaining beneficial conditions in the sector.

He reiterated that despite the approval of its elimination, procedures and procedures for the operators are still being worked on “until the extinction materializes in accordance with the Reform.”