Mexico City’s new Telecommunications Law mandates burying overhead cables to improve safety, streamline connectivity, and enhance the urban image with a comprehensive cables underground plan.
On Thursday, July 10, 2025, Mexico City took a decisive step to modernize its urban landscape and bolster public safety by approving a new Telecommunications and Broadcasting Law that requires major service providers to remove unused aerial cables and bury their infrastructure underground. The measure, endorsed by the Senate of the Republic, targets internet, television, and landline networks operated by companies such as Telmex, Izzi, Totalplay, and Megacable.
What the Law Establishes
Under Article 126 of the law, the Federal Telecommunications Commission (IFT) will issue guidelines for reorganizing, removing, or burying existing cables. Service providers must follow these technical standards in a phased rollout designed to spare companies from sudden financial strain and shield consumers from rate hikes. Early results demonstrate momentum: in 2023 alone, 626,286 meters of unused cable were cleared under a government-industry agreement.
A Gradual, Consumer-Friendly Rollout
José Antonio Peña Merino, head of the Digital Transformation Agency (ATDT), stressed during the People’s Morning Conference that the project will unfold gradually to safeguard both corporate and consumer interests. “This won’t translate into higher bills for families,” Peña Merino said, underscoring that implementation costs will not be passed on to users. By scheduling cable-removal drives each September through November, authorities and industry groups CANIETI and ANATEL aim to maintain steady progress without disrupting existing services.
Tackling Visual Pollution and Safety Risks
Mexico City’s skyline has long been marred by tangled webs of stray cables dangling from utility poles. By shifting these utilities underground, the city expects to:
- Improve urban aesthetics by eliminating the disorderly mass of cables that distract from architecture and public spaces.
- Reduce safety hazards—loose or damaged overhead lines can cause accidents, short circuits, or fires.
- Protect infrastructure from storms, high winds, and seismic tremors.
- Enhance network resilience, since underground systems suffer fewer service interruptions.
Citizen Engagement and Transparency
To involve residents in identifying high-risk areas, the city has integrated a reporting feature into LOCATEL’s Unified Citizen Service System (SUAC). Citizens can flag poles with tangled or deteriorating wires. Since the service launched, city crews have performed 10,079 interventions. Progress and planned works are published online at ciudadsincables.cdmx.gob.mx, offering transparent updates on the cables underground plan.
Building a Safer, Cleaner City
Authorities emphasize that the law will help Mexico City leave behind the chaos of aerial cables, ushering in a cleaner, safer, and more modern urban environment. Beyond aesthetics, the measure is poised to elevate the overall quality and continuity of telecommunications services—an essential priority for a city of more than nine million residents and countless businesses that rely daily on robust connectivity.
As the initiative gains momentum, Mexico City joins other global metropolises in recognizing that burying cables is more than a cosmetic upgrade. It’s an investment in public safety, infrastructure durability, and the seamless delivery of digital services. With clear guidelines from the IFT and strong collaboration between government agencies and telecom companies, the cables underground plan stands to transform CDMX’s streetscape in the years ahead.
