"Mobile phone companies have been told they have a year to build up a proper client database, complete with guacamole-stained prints."

Hey, Silvie, why do you find it necessary to utter racist statements such as that? I live in Mexico and if I saw you I would put you in a hospital.

Every time I read about a plan that affects people's freedom in the world, I ask myself who is behind this plan. It is quite obvious that this plan does not help to make Mexico a safer country. But it does give the Mexican government an excuse to fingerprint the entire nation and to create a huge database. Where does that database end up? The same government was also convinced that lie detector tests help to fight corruption in the legal system and police force. Convinced by WHOM? By the same people who built a wall at the Mexican border that is worse than the iron curtain was. Again, I am missing names in this article. Who is driving this plan, who are the affiliates?

Start by cleaning up the notoriously corrupt city, state and federal police forces, then take on the narco gangs that shoot, kidnap, torture and/or decapitate rivals, police officers, and unlucky bystanders.

Then get back to fingerprinting phone users in 2060 or so.

It is well known that cellphone towers in the northern states of Mexico are controlled and hacked by criminal gangs. If the operator fixes a certain tower, the burn it down. thus they get free calling and ID less use on stolen phones.
This plus the fact that SIMS can be cloned, and they don't even need to steal any phones, not to mention also that criminals frequently hit retail outlets to get new phones and prepaid SIM cards.
Totally pointless measure, goes to show you how clueless the goverment is in Mexico about telecomm and how to properly fight crime.

Criminals already use stolen phones.

This is for tracking everyone else.