Mexico electronics industry paves the way to 4.0

As a manufacturer of electronic components, Mexico is well-positioned for the expansion of the advanced manufacturing sector, according to Mario de la Cruz (pictured) president of ICT industry chamber Canieti.

During an event organized by Mexico's national foreign trade bank Bancomext, de la Cruz said electronics industry exports amount to US$76bn per year, making it the second-largest exporting industry in Mexico, after the automotive sector.

Given the weight of electronics, Mexico is at a key moment to further boost its industry 4.0, said de la Cruz. The executive added that this sort of development requires the deployment of 5G technology and other internet of things networks.

De la Cruz predicted the number of connected devices in Mexico, including machine-to-machine connections, to reach 365mn in the next four years.

Despite undeniable opportunities, de la Cruz underscored that industrial connectivity also brings security risks for critical infrastructure. Hence, Canieti and other ICT industry representatives began pushing for the development of a national cybersecurity strategy.

De la Cruz said that Mexico went from 40mn internet users when the telecommunications reform was enacted to 64mn. While this constitutes an achievement already, he added that it remains crucial to continue working on bridging the digital gap.

GOVERNMENT ROLE

For his part, Gabriel Contreras, president of telecom regulator IFT, underscored the government's commitment to the development and expansion of the country's industry 4.0. He said the authorities have the obligation to facilitate investments and provide spectrum for the deployment of next generation networks.

Contreras mentioned some changes the enactment of the telecommunications reform brought about. For instance, online banking has grown 160% since 2014. "Triple digit growth is not something you see in every sector," said Contreras.

The official highlighted that each of the 26mn users carried out an average of seven online-banking transactions every day in 2015.

The telecom sector is expecting investments of US$7.5bn from the Red Compartida wholesale network and an additional US$3.5bn from projects announced by Canieti, said Contreras.