For the third time the date for submitting bids in the 70 MHz tender for the radio spectrum for international mobile technology services has been postponed.
For the third time, the deadline has been changed for submitting the proposals, after the operators interested in thetender filed appeals and objections against the tender conditions.
Cars, medicines, cell phones and wireless networking equipment topped the list of goods imported by the countries of the region at the end of the fourth quarter of 2016.
From the Central America Trade Monitor report, IV quarter 2016, by the SIECA:
Central America, March 30, 2017. Central American Trade saw a varied performance among countries in the region, according to figures from latestCentral American Trade Monitor report,for the fourth quarter of 2016.
Between January and September 2016 the countries in the region imported $791 million worth of cellular phones, 6% less than the imports in the same period in 2015.
Figures from the information system on themobile phone market in Central America compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [Figure caption = "Click to interact with graphics"]
In the early years of the real market opening for cell lines, the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad lost 518,000 customers to the hands of private companies.
Since number portability became effective on November 30, 2013, there have been 782,000 changeovers, according to figures from the Sutel requested by Nacion.com.That figure represents 10% of the 7.5 million mobile phone lines registered in December 2015.
Five years after the market opened up, three municipalities continue to prioritize landscape aesthetics versus the need to install structures to ensure cell phone coverage.
Two court cases motivated by the governments of the municipalities of Esparza and Moravia, and the filing an appeal with the Sala I by the Municipality of Curridabat, summarize the legal objections raised because of the installation of towers for the provision of cell phone services in Costa Rica, and which continue to generate controversy five years after the opening of the telecommunications sector, according to an article by Nacion.com.
If the Sutel's proposal is approved, on December Costa Rica will eliminate the tariff regulation for the international telephone, internet and postpaid cellular telephony markets.
From a statement issued by the Superintendency of Telecommunications (Sutel):
The Superintendency of Telecommunications (Sutel), has started a process of public consultation of the technical analysis of the telecommunications markets.
In 2015 Central American countries bought $1251 million worth of mobile phones, of which 39% came from the US, 26% from China, 19% from Hong Kong and 5% from South Korea.
Figures from the Business Intelligence unit at CentralAmericaData.COM com indicate that in 2015 the main importer of cell phones was Guatemala, with $419 million, followed by Costa Rica, which spent $364 million, El Salvador, with $181 million, and Honduras, which imported $141 million worth of mobile phones.
The commercial potential of mobile devices continues to grow in emerging markets, where 93% of people check their phone in the first hour after waking up.
A global report by Deloitte highlights the growing business potential of mobile devices such as tablets and mobile phones, both in developed and emerging markets.
Five key elements highlighted in the report "Global mobile consumer trends: First Edition" .
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.
After a reduction in 2015, mobile phone penetration grew again in 2016, registering a total of 156 lines per 100 inhabitants.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Telecommunications:
Costa Rica has experienced a trend of increasing penetration of mobile telephony in the last decade. According to figures from the Vice Ministry of Telecommunications, in 2006, 33 cell phone lines were registered per 100 inhabitants, however by 2015 there were a total of 156 recorded lines per 100 inhabitants.
After a five years wait, the Telecommunications Authority has received an order to award unused radio spectrum frequencies.
From a publication in the official newspaper La Gaceta on Tuesday February 9, 2016:
Executive Decree No. 354-2015-Tel-Micitt, the Second Vice President of the Republic in exercise of the Presidency of the Republic and the Minister of Science, Technology and Telecommunications, agree:
The Superintendency of Telecommunications has now been given approval to hold the contest of 70 MHz for mobile telephony, which had been on hold since 2011.
Four years after the last allocation of frequencies, the Ministry of Telecommunications has given authorization to proceed with a public auction, in which it is expected that Claro and Telefonica will take part but not the state run power company as it already has a larger number of frequencies than private operators.
The telecommunications regulator has not found that the services provided by private operators for regional roaming at no additional cost are anti-competitive.
The complaint filed by the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad purported to show that its competitors in the mobile phone market Claro and Telefonica were implementing anti-competitive practices when setting prices for their services in the country.
The state-run telecom company ICE will pay $4 million for abusing its market power to bar entry to or cause the exit of other operators.
From a statement issued by the Superintendent of Telecommunications of Costa Rica (Sutel):
- Offenders must pay a fine of 0.58% of their gross income on mobile phones obtained during the preceding fiscal period because of the anti-competitive practice.
Caps imposed by the Superintendency on tariffs for telecommunications services restrict competition by preventing operators from offering more expensive packages to more affluent segments.
The telecommunications industry is requesting the freeing up of rates with the aim of letting the market itself be responsible for setting them, with oversight by the Superintendency of Telecommunications (Sutel).