Mexico is a large and developing middle-income market, making information and communication technology (ICT) products and services a best prospect industry sector.

Overview

Internet and IT Services

 According to a study published by the marketing consultant firm “AppsFlyer”, Mexico is the biggest mobile app market in Latin America. Application downloads grew 30 percent during 2021, compared to the previous year. Mexican users spent USD 500 million in the app stores during the first quarter of 2021.   The software and IT services segments are Mexico is positioning itself as a high-quality software developer to the manufacturing, aerospace, and finance industries. There are 38 IT clusters throughout the country offering software development, call center, high-tech manufacture, and engineering services. Mexico is following the global trend towards a service-centric IT industry, where most technologies are offered under a service contract or lease, leading to opportunities in Software as a Service (SaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), and Platforms as a Service (PaaS). The market is expected to grow during 2022, driven by the Cloud software and infrastructure adoption in the country. Some international companies have announced the creation of new data storage facilities in Mexico during 2022.  Spending on  Infrastructure as a service (IaaS),  cybersecurity solutions, mobile apps and fintech solutions is also expected grow in 2022.The López Obrador administration’s austerity measures have impacted public spending on technology. Local media reports that as of May 2022, the federal government has spent only 10 percent of the yearly budget allocated to IT.  The National Digital Strategy Office, coordinates all federal public procurement of IT products and services, and has publsihed guidance for the use of IT in the public administration that prioritizes in country data localization for government procurement processes.

Mexico’s federal budget imposes a value added tax (VAT) withholding on non-resident digital service providers in Mexico and  contemplates an enforcement mechanism to ensure compliance. All non-resident digital service providers operating in Mexico are required to obtain a tax ID number, register with the Tax Administrative Service (Servicio de Administración Tributaria or SAT), and charge and collect VAT from customers. For more information visit SAT’s website.

Telecommunications Equipment

For the past decade, the Mexican telecommunications market has consistently outpaced GDP growth, driven in large part by mobile telephony, broadband, and broadcasting. According to the Mexican Institute of Telecommunications, in 2021, Mexico had almost 125 million active wireless lines. It is expected that there would be over 127 million active wireless lines by the end of 2022, representing a two percent increase. America Móvil dominates the market with a 61 percent share in terms of number of lines compared to Telefónica’s 19percent and AT&T’s 15 percent. Virtual Mobile Operators account for five percent of the market.  Telmex is the dominant player in fixed broadband with a 49 percent market share in terms of subscriptions compared to Televisa at 23 percent, Megacable at 12 percent, and Total Play at 10 percent. 

The telecommunications Mexican market grew by 4 percent during 2021. Mobile device sales in Mexico were 15 percent lower in 2021 than the previous year.

In July 2021, Grupo Altan, the consortium responsible for deploying and administering the National Shared Wholesale Network (NSWN), known as Red Compartida filed for bankruptcy protection. The consortium is in the process of negotiating debt with its creditors. The Red Compartida had compromised to provide coverage to 92 percent of Mexico’s population by 2021, however it has requested an extension in two occasions. The new commitment contemplates reaching the promised coverage by 2024. During the last quarter of 2021, the Federal Institute of Telecommunications (Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones or IFT) published a tender for unsold 4GLTE spectrum, only AT&T and Telcel participated.  IFT has authorized Telcel to commercially launch 5G technology. At&T has also started deploying 5G in the country. IFT will likely auction 5G spectrum in late 2022.  The auction was scheduled to take place during 2020, but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Source: INEGI and IFT

Source: BMI Research

Leading Sub-Sectors

As in the United States, the ICT sector is extraordinarily dynamic and diverse. We see opportunities for U.S. companies in the following sub-sectors:

• Cybersecurity
• Mobile payments and mobile apps

Remote work solutions

• Data center infrastructure
• Integration services
• Cloud computing
• Cloud security services
• Collaboration tools
• Internet of things
• Cloud analytics
• Business intelligence software

Opportunities

The main opportunities for IT products and services are in sectors intensifying the use of IT and solutions that support operations, productivity, and cost reduction for manufacturing, retail, and financial services. Opportunities include cloud computing solutions, cybersecurity, mobile applications, software as a service (SaaS), IT administrative and consulting services,  data centers, automation, and Artificial Intelligence.

Resources

 

Federal Institute of Telecommunications (IFT)                                                                                                                                                                            

National Chamber of the Electronics, Telecommunications, and IT Industry (CANIETI)                                                                                                                                                                            

IT Industry Association (AMITI) 

National Chamber of Cable Television (CANITEC)                                                                                                                       

Events

Expo Data Center, August 17-19, 2022, World Trade Center Mexico City
InfoSecurity Mexico, October 5-6, 2022, Centro CitiBanamex, Mexico City
Contacts

For more information on Internet, IT services, and telecommunications market in Mexico, please contact:

Adriana Carrillo

Commercial Specialist

U.S. Commercial Service—Mexico City

Tel.: +52 (55) 5080-2000 ext. 5215

Adriana.Carrillo@trade.gov