Call signs in Mexico are unique identifiers for telecommunications, radio communication, radio broadcasting and transmission. They are regulated internationally by the ITU as well as nationally by the Federal Telecommunications Institute, which regulates broadcast stations, wireless telecommunications and spectrum use.
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The International Telecommunication Union has assigned Mexico the following call sign blocks for all radio communication, broadcasting or transmission:
While not directly related to call signs, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) further has divided all countries assigned amateur radio prefixes into three regions; Mexico is located in ITU Region 2. Mexico is in ITU zone 10 and CQ zone 6.
Call sign assignments for amateur radio
The IFT issues call signs in the XE and XF series for amateur use, the latter mainly for offshore use. There are 60,000 licensed ham radio operators in Mexico.
The separating numeral is used to identify the region in which the amateur is licensed:
Call signs for foreign hams
Typically a permit to operate in Mexico will state the call sign you are to use, and can be one's home call sign with a further XE prefix. For instance if your home call sign is WA1ZZZ, you might be assigned XE1/WA1ZZZ.
Further, if you operate outside of the XE1 area, you would add a further identifying suffix – for instance XE1/WA1ZZZ/XE2 if you were operating in northern Mexico. The call sign must be given always as enumerated on the permit, and the operator's location must also be stated in Spanish.
The permit does not automatically allow operation in XF island areas. Special permission must be sought for island operation.
Special Events
Call signs in the 6DA–6JZ block have been used for special event call signs on a temporary basis. In 2007 6G1LM was assigned to Federacion Mexicana de Radioexperimentadores for their 75th anniversary as was 6F75A. Occasional other special call sign prefixes have been briefly allowed, such as XA5T, XB9Z, and XE0DX during major amateur radio contests. 4C1ASM was used by the Asociacion de Scouts de Mexico (Mexican Scouts Association) during the Jamboree on the Air JOTA for some years.
6H1 also replaced the XE1 prefix, 6I2 replaced the XE2 prefix, and 6J3 replaced the XE3 prefix. 6E4 replaced XF4 for the Revillagigedo island group.