Portable Internet in Mexico: Prices, Compatibility and
Rules of CFE's MIFI Service
CFE Telecommunications and Internet for All (CFE TEIT)
keeps its mobile internet alternative active through MIFI devices, designed to create portable Wi-Fi networks that facilitate access to connectivity in areas of the national territory covered by Altán Redes.
Entry Costs and Package Offerings
To access the basic service, users can
purchase the official CFE MIFI modem for a price of 1,150 pesos, an amount that already includes home delivery and the first month of service with a bundle of 5 GB of data.
Once the initial period is concluded, the monthly pricing scheme is distributed under the following data packages:
- 5 GB: 150 pesos per month (with options of 680 pesos per semester or 1,350 pesos annually).
- 10 GB: 270 pesos monthly.
- 20 GB: 380 pesos monthly.
- 30 GB: 495 pesos monthly.
- 50 GB: 610 pesos monthly.
- 80 GB: 950 pesos monthly.
- 100 GB: 1,180 pesos monthly (with an annualized cost reaching 11,690 pesos for this same capacity).
Technical Specifications and Usage Policy
The operation of MIFI packages is subject to very clear consumption guidelines:
- Exclusive Data Use: Plans do not include voice calls, text messages (SMS), or independent data bundles for social networks.
- Consumption and Reloads: Navigation is interrupted immediately when the contracted data is exhausted. However, customers with semester or annual plans have the option to purchase additional bundles of 5, 10, or 20 GB to restore the service before their regular renewal date.
- Speed and Coverage: The service operates under the commercial scheme of "best effort", which means it will provide the highest available transmission speed in the area, potentially affected by factors such as network congestion, presence of buildings, or construction materials. Its use is restricted exclusively to the territory of Mexico.
Hardware Flexibility (BYOD)
A key element of this infrastructure is that it is not mandatory to purchase the official CFE modem. Interested parties can use their own device that is compatible with SIM cards and specifically operates on Band 28 of 700 MHz, the frequency used by the Altán network. This technical flexibility allows users to take advantage of the service using previously acquired equipment that meets the band requirements.
Our viewpoint at next+ is that maintaining CFE's MIFI offering at highly competitive prices confirms that internet access in Mexico is decentralizing from traditional fixed and real estate networks. By allowing users to connect up to 10 devices simultaneously without forcing the purchase of specific hardware, CFE TEIT not only serves communities without wired coverage but also pressures the cost per gigabyte in the national telecommunications market. The main challenge for the success of this government initiative no longer resides in the price of the packages but in the real stability and geographical outreach that Altán Redes can offer to sustain a competitive user experience against private mobile broadband operators.