Mexico: rules and approvals
In 2025 the IFT was dissolved and replaced by the Agencia de Transformacion Digital y Telecomunicaciones, within which the Comision Reguladora de Telecomunicaciones now issues Certificates of Homologation.
Mexico · explosion proof
Explosion-Proof Mobile Phone Distributor in Mexico
The IS-04Z1 is an Ex mobile phone for people working inside classified areas at Mexican refineries, offshore platforms, petrochemical plants and fuel terminals. Oil was first refined into kerosene around 1876 near Tampico, and Pemex's Tula refinery in Hidalgo is among its major inland refining sites. Distribution partners for Mexico are being identified ahead of the Q4 2026 launch of the IS-04Z1.
Pre-launch · certification in progress · Launching Q4 2026
Marking targetEx ib IIC T4Intrinsic safety, Zone 1 / 21 design target · certification in progress
AvailabilityQ4 2026via authorised distributors
Search topicexplosion proof
DeviceMobile Phone
RouteDistribution
WhereMexico
Short answer. Mexico has no appointed SAMS distributor yet: the IS-04Z1 is pre-launch (certification in progress, no certificate issued, launch planned for Q4 2026), and distributor applications are open.
Where things stand: the IS-04Z1 has not launched, and none of its four certification routes has produced a certificate yet. An operator's own vendor approval is a separate step. Certification status. Place facts reviewed October 2026.
At a glance · explosion proof
Checklist: explosion proof mobile phone for Mexico
| Check | What to look for | IS-04Z1 today |
|---|---|---|
| Protection concept | Flameproof (Ex d) or intrinsic safety (Ex i) | Intrinsic safety, level ib |
| Zone suitability | Zone 1 gas and Zone 21 dust | Design target for Zone 1 and 21 |
| Certificate | Number, issuing body and schedule of conditions | In progress; not issued |
| Where it applies | Mexico: Ciudad del Carmen, Coatzacoalcos and Minatitlán, Altamira, Tamaulipas | Classified by the site operator |
Product · Mexico
The product behind this search: the SAMS IS-04Z1.
SAMS IS-04Z1
An intrinsically safe Android smartphone designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 hazardous areas in Mexico. It is pre-launch: IECEx, ATEX and NEC 500 certification is in progress ahead of the Q4 2026 launch.
- IP68 sealed
- 4,000 mAh battery
- 50 MP camera
- Android 16
- Zone 1 / Zone 21 design target
The market · Mexico
Where an Ex phone is used in Mexico
Operators and classified areas drawn from the SAMS Mexico market guide.
Operators, EPCs and contractors
- Pemex
- The national refining system, Campeche production, pipelines and terminals
- CFE
- Power stations and their fuel handling and storage areas
- Braskem Idesa
- The Etileno XXI polyethylene complex in southern Veracruz
- Alpek and Indelpro
- Polyester and polypropylene production on the Gulf coast
- Cydsa
- Chemicals and underground hydrocarbon storage in Veracruz
- Vopak
- Chemical and petrochemical tank terminals at Altamira and Coatzacoalcos
Industrial areas and sites
- Dos Bocas, Tabasco
- The Olmeca refinery, still ramping up through 2026
- Bay of Campeche
- Ku-Maloob-Zaap, Cantarell and the Ayatsil development
- Ciudad del Carmen
- The onshore base supporting the offshore fleet
- Coatzacoalcos and Minatitlán
- Refining and petrochemicals along the Isthmus corridor
- Altamira, Tamaulipas
- The leading port for petrochemical fluids in Mexico
- Tula, Hidalgo
- Refining and power generation on the central plateau
Field notes · Mexico
More about Mexico that matters for portable equipment
Mexico: rules and approvals
Telecom and wireless products follow the PEC conformity assessment procedure, which results in a Certificate of Homologation, so older IFT references in supplier paperwork may be out of date.
Mexico: rules and approvals
Applicants are described as needing in-country testing in Mexico or at a laboratory recognised under a mutual recognition agreement, plus a local representative or importer.
Mexico: background
Pemex was formed by decree on 7 June 1938 after the nationalisation of the private oil companies, and it is still state-owned and run by the government.
The term · explosion proof
What “explosion proof” means for a smartphone
“Explosion proof” is the phrase most buyers use for equipment that may be taken into a classified hazardous area. Strictly, it covers several protection concepts: a flameproof enclosure (Ex d) contains an internal explosion, while intrinsic safety (Ex i) limits electrical energy so that an ignition cannot start. Phones are normally intrinsically safe, because a flameproof handset would be too heavy to carry all shift.
The IS-04Z1 uses intrinsic safety, with a marking target of Ex ib IIC T4, and is designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21. It is pre-launch, certification is in progress and no certificate has been issued.
In Mexico. Mexican plants say prueba de explosión loosely, but the concepts differ. Flameproof Ex d encloses a possible explosion, while the IS-04Z1 uses intrinsic safety to limit energy. At a refinery such as Dos Bocas, offshore Campeche or a petrochemical terminal at Altamira, the second concept suits a handset more than a heavy fixed fitting.
The route · distribution
Distributing the IS-04Z1 in Mexico
Distribution of the IS-04Z1 is by authorised partners only, and SAMS has not yet granted a territory for Mexico. Each application is reviewed on its merits. Because opening a certified Ex handset in an ordinary workshop invalidates its certificate, the partner must be able to support and service the device locally.
What SAMS looks for in a partner
- Operator relationships
- Existing supplier registrations or a clear route to them with the main operators and contractors in Mexico.
- Ex-competent staff
- People who understand zone classification, markings and the conditions of a certificate.
And equally important
- Local-language support
- Documentation, training and helpdesk in the languages the workforce uses.
- Service capability
- Spares, battery replacement and repair routed through SAMS-approved channels.
Questions · Mexico
Frequently asked questions
Can we buy an explosion proof mobile phone in Mexico today?
Not today. Until the certificates are issued the IS-04Z1 stays out of classified areas, and until launch there is nothing to purchase. You can ask for the datasheet and the certification schedule, or book a safe-area evaluation unit.
What does an explosion proof mobile phone in Mexico cost?
There is no list price yet. SAMS gives indicative pre-launch pricing in writing, against a stated quantity and site, and does not commit to a lead time before certification completes.
Is the IS-04Z1 explosion proof or intrinsically safe?
It is intrinsically safe (marking target Ex ib IIC T4), which is the usual way to make a phone for hazardous areas. It is not a flameproof (Ex d) design, and certification is still in progress.
Which sites in Mexico does this cover?
The market guide for Mexico covers Dos Bocas, Tabasco, Bay of Campeche, Ciudad del Carmen, Coatzacoalcos and Minatitlán, among others. Site-level pages are linked below.
How do I become a SAMS distributor for Mexico?
Apply through the distributor page with your company details and the territory you cover. SAMS reviews applications company by company and has not yet granted a territory for Mexico.
Which Mexican body approves telecom equipment now?
Following the 2025 changes, the Comision Reguladora de Telecomunicaciones within the Agencia de Transformacion Digital y Telecomunicaciones issues Certificates of Homologation, replacing the IFT. Check the current procedures with the CRT or an accredited body, as supplier documents may still cite IFT.
What conditions should devices handle on the Gulf of Mexico coast?
Gulf coast and offshore sites typically combine heat, high humidity, salt air and seasonal storms, so check ingress protection, corrosion resistance and operating temperature range. Confirm platform transfer rules, such as helicopter battery restrictions, with the operator before deployment.
Does the IS-04Z1 need homologación in Mexico?
Radio equipment needs homologación separately from hazardous area approval, and that step is in progress alongside the explosion protection programme. No approval has been granted yet. Check with the site and your telecoms team which documents they will require before any device is enrolled.
Related guides
Keep exploring
Other guides for Mexico, other places in Mexico, and the pages behind them.
Rugged Mobile Phone Supplier in MexicoSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone in MexicoSame place, different guide
Intrinsically Safe Mobile Phone in MexicoSame place, different guide
Industrial Mobile Phone in MexicoSame place, different guide
Ex-Proof Mobile Phone Distributor in MexicoSame place, different guide
IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in MexicoSame place, different guide
Mexico market guideCertification route and regulators
All guides for MexicoEvery route we cover
Certification statusWhat is in progress
Enquiry · Mexico
Ask about the IS-04Z1 for Mexico
Send the site, zone and gas group and roughly how many handsets. We reply by email with the datasheet and the certification schedule.
Enquiry · Mexico
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for Mexico?
Send the zone and gas group of your site and we will reply with the datasheet and schedule.