In a major shift for the Mexican telecommunications landscape, AT&T México has secured a legal victory that grants it the authority to use a critical 50MHz block of spectrum in the 3.5GHz band for mobile services nationwide. The ruling, handed down by the Second Collegiate Court Specialized in Economic Competition, ends a seven-year regulatory dispute and provides the operator with a significant boost in its capacity to expand 5G coverage across the country.
The decision mandates that Mexico’s Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (CRT) amend the company’s concession titles to include mobile wireless access, transforming a block previously restricted to fixed wireless services. This change aligns AT&T’s spectrum capabilities more closely with its primary competitor, Telcel, which has long held mobile rights in adjacent segments of the mid-band spectrum.
## Ending a Seven-Year Regulatory Gridlock
The origin of this case dates back to 2019, when the now-dissolved Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT) renewed AT&T’s nine 3.5GHz concessions but limited their utility to fixed wireless access. AT&T challenged the restriction in court, arguing that the limitation stifled its ability to compete in the burgeoning 5G market.
Following the legislative restructuring of Mexico’s telecommunications oversight—which saw the dissolution of the IFT and the creation of the CRT—the court’s order fell to the new agency to execute. On August 11, 2026, the CRT unanimously approved the compliance of the court’s mandate. However, the authorization is contingent upon AT&T paying approximately MX$7.83 million in fees within 30 business days. Failure to meet this financial deadline will render the favorable court ruling void.
## Balancing the Competitive Landscape
The acquisition of mobile-ready 3.5GHz spectrum is a pivotal development for AT&T, which has historically relied on 2.5GHz bands for its 5G deployments. This technological disadvantage has been starkly reflected in market penetration metrics; as of late 2025, national 5G penetration hovered at only 13%, with Telcel’s network reaching 125 cities compared to AT&T’s 56.
By gaining access to the 3.5GHz band, which is globally recognized as a “sweet spot” for 5G deployment due to its balance of capacity and coverage, AT&T is better positioned to close the infrastructure gap. Industry analysts suggest this move will not only improve service quality—which faced scrutiny during the 2026 FIFA World Cup—but also increase the company’s valuation should it seek to divest or attract new wholesale partners. With 2Q26 revenues showing a healthy 16.1% year-over-year growth, the firm is clearly positioning itself for a more aggressive expansion in the second half of the decade.
## Technical Constraints and Future Spectrum Auctions
While the court has granted the right to use the band for mobile services, the authorization comes with strict technical conditions. AT&T must ensure its operations do not cause harmful interference with existing satellite services and must adhere to specific power, emission, and synchronization standards. This is part of a broader, more complex regulatory environment in Mexico, where the government is currently working to optimize spectrum usage.
The CRT is simultaneously pushing ahead with an ambitious spectrum agenda. This includes the pending auction (CRT-RRI-01) for industrial 5G private networks in the 2.3GHz band and the recent division of the country into 242 distinct zones for upcoming tenders in the 10.5GHz and 3.8GHz bands. As the regulator attempts to decentralize access and foster competitive growth, this latest judicial outcome serves as a bellwether for how legacy spectrum disputes will be resolved in an era increasingly defined by the demand for ubiquitous 5G connectivity.
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