Sutel, the telecommunication regulator for Costa Rica’s telecoms sector has given approval for 10 companies to bid to offer data, IP telephony, cable TV and IPTV services.
The country’s telecommunications industry is being opened up and new entrants are…
Sutel, the telecommunication regulator for Costa Rica’s telecoms sector has given approval for 10 companies to bid to offer data, IP telephony, cable TV and IPTV services.
The country’s telecommunications industry is being opened up and new entrants are being invited to compete with state operator the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE).
Sutel is expected to award the first new cellular licences in August. Potential market entrants include América Movil, Cable & Wireless, Claro, Digicel and Telefónica, who all have operations in different countries of Central America.
ICE has been one of the main stumbling blocks, taking its time to hand over the required radio frequencies and using the legal system to slow down the coming of competitors. The process of creating the Sutel and legal issues over its function and authority also slowed the liberalization process down.
