Construction of a Telcel 5G antenna in Puerto Vallarta’s Independencia neighborhood has resumed for the third time, sparking controversy among local residents. Neighbors allege corruption and collusion between licensing officials and private interests.
Although municipal authorities had previously suspended and closed the project, City Hall workers were spotted on site Tuesday, February 25, removing closure seals. By Thursday morning, February 27, construction work on the 5G antenna had resumed. The contested project is located at 210 Francisco Márquez Street, and has been disputed for months.
Residents report an ongoing lawsuit against the responsible company, the property owner, and the city council, citing lack of transparency and absence of community consent. Despite legal requests, residents claim they haven’t received the corresponding case file.
“We want to note that Luis Munguía and his corrupt Renace associates, starting with Balderas where construction licenses are issued, came Tuesday to remove the closure seals. Since 6:00 this morning, antenna workers have resumed activities on the property.
“There is also a lawsuit against the company, the property owner, and the city council. The neighbors have legally requested the file from the city council through the ISPAC School, but it hasn’t been provided,” the residents stated.
The situation is complicated by contradictory statements from Mayor Luis Munguía, who in November 2024 told the press that the antenna installation would not proceed without consent from Independencia neighborhood residents.
However, on February 5, 2025, Munguía met with Carlos Slim Domit, president of Grupo CARSO, Telcel’s parent company. Following this meeting, the mayor indicated his administration was seeking to attract investment for city development, raising questions about the project’s future and commitment to previous agreements.