Mexico will be one of the three host countries for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, alongside the United States and Canada, with the tournament set to begin in less than a month. As part of the preparations, the Mexican government granted temporary spectrum resources so operators can access additional capacity to support the expected surge in data traffic and communications demand, particularly for fifth-generation mobile services.
Telcel, AT&T and Altán became the first three companies authorized by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (CRT) to temporarily use radio spectrum in the 600 MHz, 1.9 GHz, 2.5 GHz and 3.3 GHz to 3.6 GHz bands in order to guarantee connectivity around 2026 FIFA World Cup venues, especially in areas surrounding stadiums and other strategic gathering points.
The authorization granted to those three operators — the only companies in the country with their own infrastructure and active spectrum concessions — “means that people’s communications and emergency services will not be interrupted by the enormous demand for data, while mobile signal services for calls and messaging remain operational, access to apps and digital services continues uninterrupted, and social media can still be used to share the World Cup experience,” the regulator said in a statement provided to the press. The CRT also emphasized that this marks the first time Mexico has applied Article 166 of the country’s new Telecommunications and Broadcasting Law, which establishes temporary spectrum use for exceptional circumstances.
It is worth remembering that Movistar routes its communications traffic through Altán’s network, which represents 14.54 percent of the country’s assigned spectrum resources and operates a 4.5G network. Telcel, by contrast, controls 46.78 percent of Mexico’s mobile communications spectrum and covers around 60 percent of the population, while AT&T holds 38.68 percent of the country’s mobile spectrum resources and currently operates 5G services in 30 cities. And although the measure was publicly described as a “discount,” the authorization would reportedly not involve payment of spectrum fees or usage rights.
Although the World Cup itself will run between June 11 and July 19, 2026, the validity of this temporary authorization will extend for 70 days beginning Monday, May 11, and lasting through the conclusion of the tournament. The objective is to reinforce connectivity — especially 5G coverage — across 10 key locations in the country: the areas surrounding the three host stadiums (Akron Stadium, BBVA Stadium and Azteca Stadium), the airports of Monterrey, Mexico City and Guadalajara, and urban sites such as Fundidora Park, Plaza de la Liberación and Mexico City’s Zócalo.
