Mexico fines Telcel $94 million for Oxxo SIM card deal.

Mexico's telecom regulator has fined Telcel, a subsidiary of billionaire Carlos Slim's conglomerate America Movil, $94 million for a deal with convenience store chain Oxxo to sell SIM cards. The fine relates to an alleged violation of regulations requiring telecom companies to provide equal access to their networks.

Mexico City, June 19, 2025 - The Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT) of Mexico has imposed a fine of 1.78 billion pesos ($93.6 million) on Telcel, a subsidiary of billionaire Carlos Slim's conglomerate America Movil, for engaging in anti-competitive practices. The fine stems from an exclusive deal between Telcel and convenience store chain Oxxo, which restricted the sale of rival SIM cards [1].

The IFT launched an investigation in 2021 following a complaint from a competitor. The investigation concluded that Telcel had incentivized Oxxo and another Femsa subsidiary, IMMEX, to exclusively sell Telcel SIM cards, violating fair competition laws in the Mexican telecom market. This move underscores the regulator's commitment to promoting market competition and curbing monopolistic behavior [2].

America Movil has denied the allegations, labeling the IFT's findings as "biased" and "unsupported by evidence." The company has announced plans to challenge the ruling through all available legal means. Similarly, Femsa, which owns Oxxo, has rejected the resolution and intends to contest the decision legally [2].

The penalties come amidst growing scrutiny of America Movil's market dominance. Telcel remains Mexico's largest mobile operator, making the outcome of this legal battle significant for the future of telecom competition in the country.

References:
[1] Reuters. (2025, June 17). Mexican telecoms regulator fines Telcel $93.6 million for monopolistic practices. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/mexican-telecoms-regulator-fines-telcel-93-mln-monopolistic-practices-2025-06-17/
[2] Econotimes. (2025, June 17). Mexico fines Telcel $93M over Oxxo SIM card exclusivity deal. Retrieved from https://www.econotimes.com/Mexico-Fines-Telcel-93M-Over-Oxxo-SIM-Card-Exclusivity-Deal-1713527