Virgin Mobile Latin America (VMLA) has received regulatory approval from Mexico’s Ministry of Communications and Transportation to provide wireless communications in Mexico as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO).

“We are very appreciative of the Ministry of Communications and Transportation and of the Federal Telecommunications Commission for their approval and support of our application,” said VMLA’s chairman Phil Wallace.

VMLA will begin service in Mexico approximately six months after it completes a wholesale agreement with one of Mexico’ mobile network operators. “By having our license in hand we expect our discussions with the operators will proceed along at a quicker pace,” Wallace said.

Virgin Mobile oriignally announced its plans to launch MVNOs in Latin America in June. Since then, the company has made progress towards its goal of beginning commercial operations in many countries, beginning in Chile in the first quarter of 2012. Last month VMLA announced that it had received regulatory approval from Chile’s Subsecretaria de Telecomunicaciones and that it had signed an agreement with a mobile network operator. As the Chile operation prepares for commercial launch, VMLA continues to make progress planning its expansion throughout Latin America over the next two years.

“The reaction we are experiencing from operators, regulators, retailers and potential partners across Latin America has been simply amazing. All our contacts are eager to see Virgin products in their markets,” said Peter Macnee, VMLA’s president and chief executive officer.