Mexico Updates Cell Broadcast Requirements

Mexico’s Comisión Reguladora de Telecomunicaciones (CRT) has published the final amendment to Disposición Técnica IFT-011-2022 Part 3. The revised Mexico cell broadcast requirements affect Mobile Terminal Equipment (ETM) that supports Cell Broadcast Services (CBS), introducing changes to alert functionality, testing and conformity assessment requirements.

Published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación on August 28, 2026, the amendment will enter into force on October 27, 2026. Manufacturers and certificate holders should review affected mobile-terminal portfolios before that date.

New Mexico Cell Broadcast Requirements

The amendment establishes differentiated requirements for three categories of emergency communications:

• Maximum Earthquake Alerts
• Maximum Alerts for Other Phenomena
• Civil Protection Preventive Messages

The revised provisions include updated CBS channels, audible signals, vibration patterns and user-interface requirements. Users may not disable the reception of any of these three alert categories.

Additionally, the amendment updates the referenced CBS specification from ETSI TS 123 041 V17.4.0, dated June 2022, to ETSI TS 123 041 V19.3.0, dated February 2026.

Preventive-message sound requirement

Following the public consultation, the CRT changed the proposed treatment of Civil Protection Preventive Messages. The consultation draft contemplated silent reception. However, under the final amendment, these messages must use the notification sound already configured on the mobile terminal.

A corresponding test method has also been added to verify this functionality.

Transitional provisions for existing certificates

Certificates of Conformity and Homologation issued before October 27, 2026, remain protected under the amendment’s transitional provisions.

Devices that already include the necessary technical capabilities may activate the new functionality through an operating-system update. When this option is used, the certificate holder must notify the applicable Certification Body. These certificates may continue to be extended and will remain subject to subsequent certification surveillance.

Conversely, devices without the necessary technical capabilities must also be reported to the Certification Body. Their existing certificates remain valid under the conditions originally granted, but they may not be extended.

In both scenarios, the transitional provisions expressly confirm that products do not need to be re-certified or re-homologated solely because of the amendment.

Laboratory and Certification Body transition

Testing laboratories and Certification Bodies with existing authorizations have 60 calendar days from the amendment’s publication to update their accreditation and authorization scope.

New conformity assessment and homologation procedures under the amended standard may begin once two conditions are met: the amendment has entered into force, and the CRT has authorized the first applicable testing laboratory and Certification Body.

Manufacturers should therefore assess whether existing products can support the revised Mexico cell broadcast requirements through software updates or whether their hardware capabilities are insufficient. Certificate holders should also prepare any required notifications and determine how the transitional provisions affect future certificate extensions.

Organizations requiring support with conformity assessment and market-access obligations can learn more about Entirety’s Product Certification Service.