Televisa Joins the Mobile Telecom Market With izzi

Televisa wants to compete in the mobile phone market in Mexico. Starting this week, Grupo Televisa offers, through its izzi brand, mobile phone service with unlimited internet in 17 cities in the country at a cost of MX$250. The service, which will make use of Altán Redes’ infrastructure, will include internet, calls and unlimited messaging to Mexico, the US and Canada, as well as 4.5G technology.

“Committed to the needs of telecommunications users at a time when the health emergency caused by COVID-19 forces us to stay more connected than ever, starting today (Monday) izzi internet users will be able to contract izzi mobile, the new mobile phone plan with unlimited services," the company said in a statement.

Televisa will function as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) and will begin by offering service to existing customers of its cable and internet packages sold through its izzi brand. The station will rent space on Mexico's shared telecommunications network, operated by Altán Redes.

According to the Federal Communications Institute (IFT), as of 2Q19, MVNOs represented just 1.4 percent of the mobile market.

A Disruptive Addition 

This move into the mobile phone market will cause a decrease in rates in the market, with services 80 percent cheaper than the competition, said consultancy firm The Competitive Intelligence Unit (The CIU). "izzi's foray into the mobile market is a disruptive addition to a highly concentrated market, where Telcel accumulates 72 percent of revenue," said The CIU.

“izzi becomes the first integral operator of quadruple-play (pay television, internet, fixed and mobile telephony) nationwide in Mexico seeking to reach a new milestone in its operation, to position itself more competitive and trigger better supply conditions in the telecommunications market in Mexico,” said The CIU.

The new izzi service will be available in Mexico City and metropolitan areas, Aguascalientes, Cancun, Celaya, Chihuahua, Ciudad Juarez, Cuernavaca, Merida, Mexicali, Monterrey, Playa del Carmen, Queretaro, San Luis Potoso, Tijuana, Tampico, Villahermosa and Zapopan.