América Móvil's Telmex has been required by Mexico's Instituto Federal Telecomunicaciones (IFT) to offer competitors better conditions to use its network across the country.
Looking to increase competition after Carlos Slim's company was described as a clearly prevailing telco in Mexico – it owns the country's largest physical network by far – the IFT intends to make Telmex modify the terms under which other companies rent or use its fixed infrastructure.
This follows Telmex opening up the so-called 'last mile' earlier this year, giving operators access to the cable between end users and the infrastructure's core. Now, the IFT is forcing Telmex to improve access conditions, so there can be real competition.
The decision has just been made public and now Telmex will be formally notified, after which the company has 20 days to present a new plan to the federal telecommunications institute.
The IFT has recently been introducing strict measures designed to boost access to the telecom sector, in which America Movil operates around 70% of mobile and fixed lines. The company has no licence to offer pay-TV, but the IFT has been also investigating whether or not América Móvil is using its over-the-top (OTT) platform Clarovideo to avoid such restrictions.
