Mobile Networks in Mexico

Mexico's mobile market has one giant and one challenger with its own radio network. Telcel, part of América Móvil, has by far the widest coverage, reaching small towns and highways the others don't. AT&T built its network from Iusacell and Nextel, which it bought in 2015, and competes mainly in cities and along major corridors.

Movistar still sells its own SIMs and plans, but it returned its spectrum to the government and now carries its customers on AT&T's network. Both are changing hands. Telefónica agreed in April 2026 to sell Movistar to a group led by OXIO, and AT&T agreed in October 2026 to sell AT&T Mexico to Grupo Televisa and Fintech. Both sales still need regulatory approval.

On top of these sit a growing layer of MVNOs. Bait, Walmart's brand, and Diri run on Altán Redes' shared wholesale 4G network, on the 700 MHz band. Bait needs a phone with LTE band 28, and so do Diri's standard plans. FreedomPop and Oui Móvil run on Telcel. Virgin Mobile, Weex and Flash Mobile, now owned by Diri, run on Movistar, and Unefon is AT&T's own prepaid brand.

Telcel unless you have a reason not to

My plain recommendation for Mexico is Telcel, or a Telcel-based MVNO if you want the coverage without the premium price. The reach is simply on another level outside the big cities, and for travellers driving between regions or visiting beach and colonial towns, that matters. AT&T is a reasonable city choice if its pricing suits you, and Movistar now rides the same AT&T network.

Registering your line

Every Mexican mobile line now has to be linked to its owner's CURP. The regulator, the CRT, set deadlines by the number's last digit, running to 31 December 2026, and lines that aren't linked are suspended within 72 hours of their deadline, keeping only 911 and contact with the operator. You link it on your operator's website or app, or in a store with official ID showing your CURP, and service comes back straight away. The regulator's site, registratulinea.crt.gob.mx, lists each operator's linking page. If your data, calls and texts all stopped at once, this is the first thing to check.

eSIM and getting a SIM

Telcel, AT&T, Movistar, Virgin Mobile and Bait support eSIM on compatible phones. Prepaid (de prepago) is the norm and easy to top up at corner shops, pharmacies, and supermarkets nationwide. A travel eSIM saves you the errand entirely.

Each network page lists its APN settings, MMS values where the network publishes them, and eSIM support.