Mandatory Cell Phone Registration Lags in Southern Quintana Roo

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — Only one in five people in Chetumal have completed the mandatory registration of their cell phone lines, despite the June 30 deadline fast approaching, according to the Federal Telecommunications Commission (IFT).

The low compliance rate has raised concerns among authorities and telecom companies, who warn that thousands of users could face service restrictions if they fail to register in time.

Surveys and interviews with residents in the state capital reveal that many have not yet registered their lines due to lack of awareness about the process, time constraints, or confusion over whether the measure is truly mandatory.

Some residents said they were unaware of the consequences of missing the deadline, while others described the procedure as tedious or unclear.

The IFT has reminded the public that after June 30, any line not linked to the official registry will face significant connectivity restrictions. These include the inability to make or receive calls, send or receive text messages, and access mobile data for digital applications.

The restrictions would also affect instant messaging services and banking apps that rely on mobile connections, potentially disrupting daily communication, electronic payments, and financial transactions.

The registration aims to maintain an updated record of active phone lines and strengthen security and user verification mechanisms.