Mexico Orders SMS Interconnection

Mexico's telecoms regulator, Cofetel has given the local network operators, Iusacell and Telcel 60 days to secure an interconnection between their SMS systems. Telcel, the market leader with approximately 80% of the Mexican market has been reluctant to sign interconnection agreements with its smaller rivals. Debt laden Iusacell has seen its SMS traffic rise sharply after it signed agreements with Mexico's other operators.

"The interconnection of the networks is ordered so that users from both companies can (send) short messages," communications industry watchdog Cofetel said in a statement.

The regulator also set a maximum termination charge of US$0.01 per message sent between the networks. The networks are also required to put in place measures to combat SMS spam on their networks."

Posted to the site on 13th October 2003