What CRT-RRI-01 is
In June 2026, the CRT published the draft rules for the CRT-RRI-01 public tender, whose purpose is to license spectrum segments for providing capacity to smart radiocommunications networks.
The proposal focuses on the 2.3 GHz band and is based on a model designed for specialized needs in productive sectors.
The difference from a general-purpose public mobile network lies in the use case: connectivity is proposed for operations where sensors, video, automation, equipment, and industrial systems may require specific capacity, coverage, and continuity conditions.
The CRT has mentioned applications such as automation, data analytics, video, the Internet of Things, and critical production processes.
The proposal does not mean every factory will buy spectrum
An overly simple interpretation would be to imagine that every plant will have to become a telecommunications operator.
The CRT framework contemplates licensees able to provide capacity to third parties. This creates the possibility that integrators, specialized operators, or other participants will build solutions for companies, industrial parks, and specific sectors.
The final commercial architecture will depend on the definitive rules, awards, and models participants bring to market.
That is why talking today about “private 5G for every factory” gets ahead of a reality that does not yet exist.
Public consultation has ended
Consultation on the project ran from June 18 to July 15, 2026. On July 19, the CRT reported that it had received comments related to the schedule, concession terms, block size, participant accreditation, and the boundaries of coverage areas.
Those comments matter because the viability of an industrial network does not depend only on assigning frequency.
It also depends on the investment horizon, available bandwidth, spectrum cost, required infrastructure, and the possibility of building a sustainable commercial model.
Industry requested design adjustments
During consultation, potential participants proposed extending the planned concession terms and increasing available capacity for certain applications.
El Economista documented proposals for 20-year concessions and broader bandwidth for video-intensive and real-time analytics use cases. Other participants asked to reduce financial barriers or revise award mechanisms.
These positions are not final CRT decisions. They are evidence that the model is still being built.
The difference matters: a participant’s observation should not be published as if it were a definitive tender specification.
Why it matters for manufacturing
A plant that adds more sensors, vision systems, robots, autonomous vehicles, or real-time monitoring increases the amount and criticality of data moving through its operation.
In that environment, connectivity is no longer only internet access.
It can become part of productive infrastructure.
This requires evaluating questions such as:
- latency and stability;
- coverage inside complex facilities;
- number and density of devices;
- security and segmentation;
- operational continuity;
- integration with existing systems;
- capacity required for video and analytics.
The CRT-RRI-01 tender seeks to open a new layer of options for addressing these needs.
What still cannot be claimed
As of August 2026, the public consultation has ended, but that does not amount to industrial infrastructure available nationwide.
Final conditions still need to be defined, the tender held, spectrum awarded, infrastructure deployed, and commercial services built.
Nor can a specialized network be assumed to be the right solution for every company. The business case will depend on the process, device density, operational risk, existing coverage, and the technology architecture of each facility.
Industrial connectivity is an enabling condition. By itself, it does not turn a plant into a smart factory.
Frequently asked questions
Has the CRT-RRI-01 tender concluded?
No. What concluded was the public consultation on the draft rules. The regulatory procedure and tender remain under development.
Which band does the project contemplate?
The proposal uses segments of the 2.3 GHz band for the Capacity Provision Service for Smart Radiocommunications Networks.
Will manufacturing companies have to operate their own network?
Not necessarily. The framework contemplates capacity providers able to offer specialized solutions to third parties.
Does the tender guarantee private 5G for every plant?
No. Final conditions, coverage, participants, and commercial offerings still need to materialize. Each company will need to evaluate whether a specialized solution fits its operational case.
Sources
- Telecommunications Regulatory Commission. “Public Tender Rules… CRT-RRI-01.” Draft published June 17, 2026. https://portal.crt.gob.mx/ConsultaPublica/Detalle/14
- Telecommunications Regulatory Commission. “CRT invites industry to participate in public consultation for the Smart Networks Tender.” July 12, 2026. https://www.gob.mx/crt/prensa/crt-invita-a-la-industria-a-participar-en-la-consulta-publica-para-la-licitacion-de-redes-inteligentes?idiom=es
- Telecommunications Regulatory Commission. “Public consultation strengthened the design of Mexico’s first smart networks tender.” July 19, 2026. https://www.gob.mx/crt/prensa/consulta-publica-fortalecio-el-diseno-de-la-primera-licitacion-de-redes-inteligentes-en-mexico
- El Economista. Nicolás Lucas-Bartolo. “Industry asks for more spectrum and 20-year concessions for the industrial 5G auction.” July 13, 2026. https://www.eleconomista.com.mx/empresas/industria-pide-espectro-extender-20-anos-concesiones-subasta-5g-industrial-20260713-822973.html