From August 14, users of the Greater Metropolitan Area who consume television content openly and free of charge will have to modify their equipment to access the digital signal.
With the upcoming change in the country, televisions that are not yet ready to receive the digital signal must purchase a converter compatible with the Japanese Brazilian standard ISDB-Tb.
Costa Rica has initiated meetings to address the change to digital television looking to the Spanish company Ingenia-Telecom as neutral mediator between the government and operators.
In a forum held by the National Chamber of Radio and Television, companies operating open channels emphasized the lack of a public policy to order the transition to digital television.
The associated reduced costs are driving opportunities in developing countries for technology sectors based on satellite communications.
Elfinancierocr.com published an interview by Mónica Cordero Sancho with the Deputy Secretary of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Houlin Zhao, who recently visited Costa Rica "to leverage the discussion in the area of radio spectrums to provide satellite services. '
In a new phase of liberalization of communications, competition is beginning to stir in and satellite television and internet services.
Elfinancierocr.com reports that "The Mexican company Claro and the U.S. Datzap will be the first in the country to offer satellite services, following the opening phase of the telecommunications market. At the time of going to press, the executive order that will give the green light and allow Datzap to provide satellite television and internet, respectively, was on the list of pending documents to be signed by the President of the Republic, Laura Chinchilla. This will open a window to attract more competition in the telecommunications market. Satellite services leverage waves radiating from the country's satellites orbiting in space. This technology provides broadband internet, pay television, geolocation (GPS) and mobile telephony. "
The company is looking to introduce its brand via offering satellite TV and later cell phone services.
Ricardo Taylor, general manager for Claro in Costa Rica, told La Nación that the company had already asked the government for a frequency through which to transmit the satellite signal it uses to provide customers with its service.
"América Móvil wants to begin to position its Claro brand, present in 18 North and South American countries, in order to sell products such as cell phones, internet and television, often as part of a single package," the director was reported as saying in Sdpnoticias.com.
Amnet acquired rights to broadcast two additional TV channels.
Samuel Zúñiga, executive director of Amnet Honduras, reported the company is investing approximately $800.000 a month in this project.
"This investment was presented yesterday, in a noteworthy event called 'Wake up with Amnet', in which company executives showed the new service", reported local newspaper El Heraldo.
Under the name, Conica Honduras, Sky Company began operations by offering over 200 satellite television channels.
During the first phase, it will install 2,000 antennas to broadcast its signal to the main cities.
Laprensahn.com reported statements by Jorge Céspedez Gutiérrez, Sky’s regional sales director, "The Sky product is being launched with exclusive games from the English and Spanish soccer leagues and it has no interference with other TV broadcasters."
The Mexican satellite television company began operations and will invest $450 thousand in advertising.
Marco Rojas, director of marketing for Sky, spoke to El Diario de Hoy and indicated that they already have 100 subscribers and expect to reach 5,000 or even 7,000 by the end of 2009 through an aggressive expansion plan.
The company plans to hire up to 60 service sub-distributors who will provide the installation service of the satellite system: "It is an opportunity for the Salvadoran business community," said the executive.
From its branch in Panama, the international TV station, Inter Russia TV Channel, will attend to the Central American market.
Valerin Gaichuck, president of the company said to Prensa.com: "...the TV program will be broadcast from Panama to North and South America, and hope to also become a business guide, providing information on trends, products and services such as banking and tourism."
The Mexican company, Innova, which provides paid TV services under the Sky brand name, bought the DirectTV transmission rights.
DirectTV, which provide TV by satellite and which has been in the Panamanian market for 11 years, "is leaving the market and we are in the process of migrating subscribers and calling them to inform them of the change," said a source who preferred to remain anonymous.
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