Mexico’s telecommunications regulator IFT has announced the launch of an investigation into possible monopolistic practices in the online search, social networks, mobile operating systems and cloud computing markets. The aim is to determine the possible existence of "barriers to competition and free competition" in the markets in question, said the watchdog without mentioning specific companies. The IFT said it would take no longer than 120 business days to verify compliance with Mexico’s Federal Law on Economic Competition, adding that the term may be extended by up to two times when there are justifiable causes.
Earlier this week, the US Department of Justice filed its long-awaited competition case against Google, with the backing of public prosecutors from 11 states, on the grounds that the internet giant unlawfully maintained a monopoly in the country’s search and search advertising markets. Previously, the US Congress accused Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Google of exploiting their significant market power in anticompetitive ways.
In Mexico, Google’s Android OS powers around 84 percent of the country's smartphones while its Chrome search engine has a 96 percent market share, according to figures cited by local daily El Sol. In addition, 93 percent of Mexican internet users have a Facebook account, while the company’s WhatsApp platform is used by 87 percent of internet users.
