• Home
  • News
  • Fortune 500
  • Tech
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
TechGlobal 500

This Country Just Launched an Antitrust Probe Into Its Public Phone Market

By
Reuters
Reuters
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Reuters
Reuters
Down Arrow Button Icon
October 18, 2016, 10:22 AM ET
Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim walks after he launched a free online platform for education with free access to mobile WiFi connections to the Internet on his Infinitum service during a news conference at Soumaya museum in Mexico City
Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim walks after he launched a free online platform for education with free access to mobile WiFi connections to the Internet on his Infinitum service during a news conference at Soumaya museum in Mexico City, Mexico, June 15, 2016. REUTERS/Henry Romero - RTX2GGYNHenry Romero—Reuters

Mexico’s telecoms regulator has opened an anti-trust probe into the domestic market for public telephones, the government said in its official gazette on Tuesday.

The investigation will look at possible anti-competitive behavior in the “market for production, distribution, and commercialization of public telephone service for sale to final users via telephonic apparatuses for public use,” it said.

Telmex, a unit of tycoon Carlos Slim’s America Movil, dominates the fixed line phone business in Mexico.

Before Slim acquired Telmex at the start of the 1990s, it was a state monopoly. It has public phones throughout Mexico, where it competes with smaller firms including Logitel and Alta.

As is customary, the government did not say which company the Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT) was targeting in the probe, which was sparked by a complaint.

Local media reported in July that another company, Conatel, had made an anti-trust complaint against Telmex over the public telephones market. IFT documents published online in June showed Conatel had complained it could not compete with Telmex.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

Consulted on the matter, a Telmex spokesman said it was too early to say whether the company was the target of the probe.

Slim, Mexico’s richest man, has dominated the local phone business for years, and the government passed a major telecoms reform in 2013 to loosen his hold on the telecoms market.

The public phones probe will last at least 30 working days and not exceed 120 working days, though the period of investigation can be extended if necessary, the government said.

About the Author
By Reuters
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.