CFE Pushes Fiber Optic, Mobile Network

CFE reported significant progress in expanding internet access and telecommunications coverage across Mexico, positioning digital connectivity as a central pillar of the federal government’s social and development agenda. According to a press release issued on Dec. 24, 2025, the state-owned utility, through its Telecom Coordination unit, closed the year with nearly 22,900KM of installed fiber optic infrastructure and more than 5,200 telecommunications towers operating nationwide.

CFE stated that, by the end of 2025, it had installed a total of 22,896.97km of fiber optic cable within the National Access and Aggregation Network, known as RENAyA. This backbone infrastructure supports both fixed and mobile connectivity services and is complemented by 5,229 telecommunications towers designed to provide mobile coverage using LTE technology. Together, these assets allow the company to reach 101,111 localities and 2,452 municipalities across all 32 states of the country, benefiting up to 118.8 million people.

The announcement highlights the scale of the federal government’s effort to reduce the digital divide, particularly in rural and historically underserved areas. CFE emphasized that telecommunications have become a strategic extension of its traditional role as the national electricity provider, aligning energy infrastructure with broader goals of social inclusion and economic development. By leveraging its nationwide footprint, the company has been able to deploy digital infrastructure in regions where private operators have had limited presence.

As part of its priority connectivity programs, CFE formalized collaboration agreements with the IMSS Bienestar health system and the Ministry of Public Education. Through these agreements, the company installed 3,180 free internet access points in IMSS Bienestar clinics and an additional 3,483 access points in tele-secondary schools across the country. These installations are intended to support both healthcare delivery and educational continuity, particularly in remote communities where connectivity has been limited or nonexistent.

CFE reported that this institutional collaboration will continue through 2030, with plans to install up to 31,889 additional free internet access points. As of the end of 2025, the company reported a cumulative total of 109,212 free public internet access points operating nationwide, covering a wide range of public spaces including schools, health centers, and community areas.

CFE also detailed its response to an emergency situation that affected eastern Mexico in October. CFE deployed a special telecommunications operation in the states of Hidalgo, Puebla, Querétaro, San Luis Potosi, and Veracruz to ensure continuity of communication services. During this effort, technical teams inspected 193 mobile phone towers and 984 free internet access points across 66 municipalities. In addition, the company distributed 13,000 cellular SIM cards to support communication needs among the affected population during the emergency.

Beyond emergency response, CFE linked its telecommunications activities to broader social programs. Within the framework of the Plan Michoacán por la Paz y la Justicia, the utility participated in the Ferias del Bienestar during November and December, installing free internet access points to provide connectivity for residents attending these community events. These fairs are designed to bring government services and information directly to local populations, and internet access has become a key component of their operation.

CFE also provided updated figures on its mobile telephony service, which has been operating since 2022. The company reported that, as of 2025, a cumulative total of 3,321,505 mobile lines had been activated, primarily under prepaid schemes and within the Connectivity for Well-Being program. This service is aimed at providing affordable mobile communication options, particularly for low-income users.

Looking ahead, CFE projected that, by the close of the 2025 fiscal year, combined cellular and free internet coverage delivered through the CFE-Altán shared network would reach 94.33 percent of the Mexican population. This figure reflects the integration of CFE’s infrastructure with the national wholesale mobile network operated by Altán Redes, a partnership that has become central to the government’s connectivity strategy.

The company framed these results as evidence of its commitment to ensuring universal access to telecommunications services, positioning connectivity as a public good that supports education, healthcare, security, and economic opportunity. By expanding fiber optic networks, mobile coverage, and free internet access points, CFE underscored its role as a key instrument of public policy in Mexico’s digital transformation, reinforcing the government’s objective of extending essential services to the entire national territory.