Mexico plans 60MHz private-5G auction for industrial networks

Mexico’s Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (CRT) has announced plans to auction 60MHz of upper 2.3GHz spectrum reserved for private 5G networks serving industrial players, according to Developing Telecoms. It is a significant increase on the 40MHz in a preliminary plan put to public consultation from 18 June to 15 July 2026.

The tender, designated CRT-RRI-01-2026, will run in two phases. The first will cover 72 strategic regions identified for regional projects; if spectrum remains available afterwards, it may be assigned to specific, delimited areas based on participants’ needs. The CRT has invited interested parties to express their intention to participate between 19 and 23 October 2026, Telecompaper reported. Pricing and the full auction timetable have not yet been specified, and the tender’s terms and conditions are still awaiting publication in the Official Gazette of the Federation.

The spectrum is intended to support automation, advanced robotics, artificial intelligence, remote monitoring and real-time data analysis across manufacturing, logistics, mining, ports, energy, agro-industry and industrial parks.

The auction would not be Mexico’s first private-5G spectrum: about a year ago the now-defunct Federal Institute of Telecommunications (IFT) assigned 100MHz in the 3.5GHz band to TXM Global Services for a 5G laboratory. Consultation submissions from Axtel, AT&T México, CANIETI, ASIET and Peñoles Tecnología backed the industrial-connectivity goal but flagged concerns over high spectrum costs, participation limits, legal certainty and the timetable, Mexico Business News reported.