Who Could Be Left Incommunicado This Weekend If They Don't Register Their Phone Line?

Who Could Be Left Incommunicado This Weekend If They Don’t Register Their Phone Line?

This Saturday, August 15th, marks a new phase for mobile phone users in Mexico, as some cellular lines that have not yet been linked to their owner’s name and CURP could be suspended. This measure is part of the new telephone line identification scheme promoted by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (CRT), aiming to associate each mobile number with an identifiable person to reduce anonymity used in crimes such as fraud, extortion, and virtual kidnapping.

The process does not affect all users simultaneously. The authority has established a progressive schedule based on the last digit of the cellular number. According to the official CRT portal, the first numbers on the calendar have a deadline of August 15th.

According to information provided by the CRT, 70,172,354 lines have been linked so far, representing approximately 48% of the total that must comply with this obligation. This indicates that a significant number of lines are still pending linkage, and the schedule will continue to advance over the coming months.

Which Users Could Be Left Without Calls, SMS, and Mobile Internet?

The first group that needs to pay attention this weekend are prepaid line users whose numbers end in 0 and who have not completed the corresponding linkage. The CRT points out that registration applies to prepaid or recharge lines, while postpaid lines do not require this procedure as they are already associated with the account holder’s name from the time of contracting.

Among the main users at risk are:

Individuals with prepaid lines ending in 0: This group faces the first deadline on the suspension calendar. If the number is not yet linked, service may be restricted.
Users who purchased a SIM card without providing identification beforehand: The new scheme specifically aims to end the use of anonymous mobile lines.
Individuals using a line for commercial activities: A mobile number can be the primary contact channel for salespeople, delivery personnel, independent professionals, businesses, and entrepreneurs.
Users who rely on SMS for service authentication: A suspended line can prevent the reception or sending of messages related to various digital operations.
Individuals who are unaware of which lines are associated with their CURP: The platform allows users to check the numbers linked to their identity and request the unlinking of those they no longer use.

It is important to note that suspension does not necessarily mean the immediate and permanent loss of the number. The official portal indicates that an unregistered line may be temporarily suspended until the linkage is completed. Once the procedure is finished, service can be restored.

The CRT also states that suspended lines will maintain certain enabled functions, including calls to emergency services and the customer service channels of the telephone company. The official calendar establishes that lines not linked after each deadline will be suspended.

How to Register Your Phone Line Before It’s Suspended?

The procedure can be completed digitally through the official CRT portal Registra tu línea or directly through the operators’ customer service channels.

To complete the process, the user will need to:

Access the official portal: The platform allows users to select their telephone company and begin the linkage process.
Provide the mobile number: The user must indicate the line they wish to register.
Present a valid official identification: The CRT accepts voter ID cards or passports as valid documents for verification.
Photograph the identification: The digital procedure requires capturing images of the identification to verify the data.
Perform identity validation: The system uses the phone’s camera to conduct a liveness check and verify that the person performing the procedure matches the presented identification.
Await confirmation: Once the registration is complete, the telephone company must confirm that the line has been linked.

The CRT clarifies that the process is free of charge and does not require fingerprint or iris scanning. The liveness check is used to confirm that a real person is performing the validation.

It is also possible to complete the process in person. To do so, the user can visit a Customer Service Center of their telephone company with a valid official identification.

Another relevant point for consumers is that the registration is associated with the phone number, not the device. Therefore, changing mobile phones does not require repeating the procedure for the same line.

What Happens If Someone Has Lines They No Longer Use?

The new system can also help detect lines that appear linked to a person without their knowledge. Through the query mechanisms, users can review which numbers are associated with their identity. If they find a line they no longer use or do not recognize, they can request its unlinking.

The CRT further stipulates that the information collected must be protected by telephone companies in accordance with applicable data protection regulations.

For those who have not yet completed the procedure, the main message for this weekend is to check the last digit of their mobile number.

If it ends in 0, the deadline is August 15, 2026. If it ends in 1, the next deadline will be August 31st. Subsequently, the calendar will continue with the other digits: 2 on September 15th; 3 on September 30th; 4 on October 15th; 5 on October 31st; 6 on November 15th; 7 on November 30th; 8 on December 15th; and 9 on December 31st.