Since rules came into effect on number portability, Costa Rica's state telephone company has lost 559 thousand lines, which have swelled the client lists of the two foreign competitors that operate in the mobile telephony market.
The possibility of keeping the same cell phone number and changing operator has existed since November 2013, and since then, Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) has lost almost 560 thousand lines, which passed into the hands of Telefónica, which operates the brand Movistar, and Claro, a brand of the Mexican company América Móvil.
The communications giant has requested authorization to operate in the country in the market of data transfer services under the model of leased lines.
Elfinancierocr.com reports that "...The leased lines data market includes services known as dedicated lines, which are connectivity services normally provided to companies and institutions. "
Between 2013 and 2015 data traffic grew by 200%, and the state-owned ICE continued to lose its share in the mobile phone market, going from 62% in 2014 to 58% in 2015.
From the report "Statistics in the telecommunications sector 2015 ," by the Superintendency of Telecommunications (Sutel):
At the close of 2015, "... a total of 139 operators and suppliers authorized by the Sutel were recorded.
The licenses granted to the Chinese company will allow them to provide basic telephone services, data transmission, internet, phone and TV subscription, for terms of 10 to 20 years.
According to Elnuevodiario.com.ni "... The license to provide public telephone services nationwide was granted for ten years, according to Administrative Resolution 389-2014, contained in La Gaceta 166.
The telecommunications sector is asking for spectrum auctions to be resumed in order to meet the growing demand for voice and data services.
After the Supreme Court suspended the auction process as a precautionary measure after receiving a constitutional challenge over the allocation of television frequencies, the telecommunications sector has not been able to meet new demand for services.
A 10 year license has been awarded to the Russian-owned company to allow them to venture into the market of data transmission services.
The Nicaraguan newspaper La Gaceta published "...Awarded to the company Yota de Nicaragua SA License 2014-TD-001 for permission to operate and provide data transmission services, as a service of general interest from the date of signing of the license agreement, until 30 January 2024."
The launch of Digicel service is part of an investment plan in which $45 million has been invested to modernize the technological infrastructure.
In the first year of execution of the the 2013-2015 Master Investment Plan $30 million will be invested and the remaining $15 million will be invested over the next two years.
José Antonio Rodríguez, CEO of Digicel El Salvador, said "we are taking a leap in technology, going from 2G to HSDPA + technology, known as 4G, which is being used in developed countries."
In order to meet the growing demand for mobile connectivity Cable and Wireless is expanding its cellular network in Panama City and Colon.
From a press release by Cable and Wireless Panama (CWP):
"The provider of wireless services has invested $50 million in upgrading the network implemented in 2011 and which serves much of the Panamanian population.
Costa Rica is the regional leader in 4G data consumption through mobile devices and 4G networks.
America Movil (Claro) and Telefonica (Movistar) agree that Costa Rica is the country with the highest data traffic in Central America, this is because it is the only country that does not charge for downloading data, but rather by the speed offered by providers.
It is now more than a year since the first installation in the region of the enhanced technology networks that enable wireless data communication.
Larepublica.co reports that "The installation of 4G LTE networks in Latin America has been a growing trend since December 2011 when Antel in Uruguay launched the first commercial offering."
"...There are 10 networks that are operational in eight countries in the region.
The Costa Rican Electricity Institute agreed to release 4 radio frequencies to be used by competitors in the cellular telephone market.
With this agreement, Costa Rican president, Oscar Arias will sign a decree to give the Sutel the green light for the opening of the market.
"Once the Sutel has the frequencies, it should take four to six months for the process of awarding a license, if there are no appeals", reported Nacion.com.
In 2014, the market for fixed and mobile telecommunications in El Salvador will be twice the current one, according to a report by Pyramid Research.
El Salvador is ranked 12 in Latin America in terms of market size, and it is expected that the telecommunications industry in the country will generate $1.5 million in 2009, said José Magaña, analyst and author of the report.