Mobile users in Mexico face the permanent loss of their phone numbers if they fail to maintain active usage on their prepaid accounts. Carriers including Telcel, AT&T, Movistar, and Bait hold the legal authority to suspend and eventually terminate lines that show no activity.
According to the Federal Law on Telecommunications and Broadcasting, mobile numbers are considered a finite national resource regulated by the state. Companies are not required to maintain inactive connections indefinitely. Instead, they must return unused numbers to the Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT) for reassignment to new customers.
While users have the right to port their numbers when switching providers, this protection does not extend to accounts that have been abandoned. The policy ensures that the pool of available phone numbers remains sufficient for the growing number of mobile subscribers in the country.
Best practices for line retention
To avoid automatic cancellation, industry experts recommend several proactive steps. The most direct method is to perform periodic recharges, even in small amounts, to keep service benefits active.
Usage is not strictly limited to outgoing activity. Receiving calls or incoming messages also registers as usage in the carrier’s system, which can prevent a line from being flagged for inactivity.
Users should verify their specific carrier's expiration policies rather than waiting until the final day of service. Monitoring remaining balances and responding to automated notifications from providers regarding account status are essential to preventing service loss.
If a provider offers a frozen balance feature, users should recharge their accounts before the grace period expires. This action prevents the permanent loss of existing credits while simultaneously extending the life of the phone number.
Ultimately, the responsibility for maintaining a line rests with the subscriber. By ensuring the account reflects regular usage, users secure their access to their current mobile number and avoid the administrative process of line reclamation.