Telmex’s share of Mexico‘s fixed telephony market dropped significantly. In 2013, it had 72 percent of the market. However, by 2024, its share dropped to just 34 percent.
In total, it lost 38 percentage points in 11 years.
This data is based on the number of registered lines and was released by the Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT).
Telmex’s share of Mexico’s fixed telephony
Telmex was created in 1947 as a state-owned company to modernize telephony in Mexico. Its most important change came in 1990, when it was privatized and passed into the hands of the group led by Carlos Slim, who boosted its growth and became one of the richest men in the world.
“Telmex is no longer a business … because of the labor liabilities and because we have been excluded to give convergence to our customers in the last 20 years,” Slim said at a press conference in Mexico City on February 12, 2025.
The fixed telephony market in Mexico grew from 19.2 million lines in the second quarter of 2013 to 29.9 million lines in the second quarter of 2024.
Fixed telephony in Mexico has lost relevance mainly due to the rise of mobile telephony and internet access. People prefer cell phones for their mobility and extra functions, such as applications and messaging. However, fixed telephony is still important as a support for other services and internet access.
“We cannot give pay TV to our clients because we have not been given the permits in the last four governments and this prevents competition, affecting the consumer and this is a failure of the governments and the IFT,” added Slim in the same conference.
Grupo Televisa
Although fixed telephony calls have decreased, the number of lines has grown due to their use in broadband internet services, especially with optical fiber. Thus, many fixed lines are now key to fast internet access in homes and businesses, according to the IFT.
Which companies took market share away from Telmex in fixed telephony service in Mexico during the 11 years in question?
In first place is Grupo Televisa, whose market share rose from 9 to 28 percent.
In turn, Megacable-MCM increased its share from 4 to 18 percent.