Five years after the fall of the monopoly, there are more companies, more users and a greater array of services on offer, with growth of 45% in the sector's contribution to GDP.
According to data reported by telecommunications companies to the Superintendency of Telecommunications (Sutel), the sector's contribution to the economy has grown by 45% over the past five years.
In 2012, telecommunications companies had annual revenues of $939.2 million, of which $572.9 million correspond to the cell phone market.
Prensa.com reports that "until the end of last year there were 6.7 million subscribers to mobile phones, representing an increase of 123.3% compared to 2007 when there were 3 million active lines".
Regarding the payment, Panamanians mostly prefer the prepaid system, 93% of users use this format, while others maintain an annual contract with either company.
The company has two months to submit a new plan to the Executive on the integration of corporate governance and the search for a new strategic partner.
So ordered the Minister of the Presidency, María Antonieta Guillén. This comes after the granting of an extension to the term of the commission set up by the Honduran Telecommunications Company (Hondutel).
The National Telecommunications Fund plans to develop seven projects in the areas of education, social welfare, health and homes, which will feature, for the first time, internet and telephone services.
According to the Telecommunications Superintendency (Sutel), there are a total of 477 schools, 78 colleges, 155 Ebais (health centres), 25 Cecis and 70 CEN- CINAI which will be connected with a speed of 4 megabytes.
It is vital for the nation's economy that an agenda on Information and Communication Technologies be developed, accompanied by the relevant legislation.
Peter Argumedo, senior researcher at Fusades called for swift approval in the Legislative Assembly of the draft laws related to computer security, in order to promote an investment climate. "An economy must be competitive so that it can be linked to global production chains.
The term "white elephant" is used for possessions whose costs are greater than the benefits they bring, or those which, benefiting others, only cause the owner problems.
Radiographic Costarricense (RACSA) is a subsidiary of the state energy and communications company in Costa Rica, the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE).
Racsa, created by a law, which means that its closure must be approved by the Legislature in the country, currently has serious financial problems, and as noted in an article in Elfinancierocr.com, has no clear alternatives or specific projects to ensure its economic viability in the short or medium term. Meanwhile, taxpayers are covering the deficit through taxes or through higher rates from its parent company, the ICE.
An announcement has been made that a French company may be interested in the purchase of 51% shares of the Honduran Telecommunications Company.
If the purchase is realized, the company would install a modern technology platform for monitoring phone calls.
The president of the telecommunications commission in Congress, Rodolfo Irias Navas, reported on a meeting with representatives of the French Embassy in Honduras with company executives interested making the acquisition.
The President of Grupo Digicel has announced investments over the next eighteen months of more than $40 million.
In his short visit to El Salvador, Denis O'Brien was interviewed about the expansion, with topics covered such as the Salvadoran authorities refusal to authorize the sale of Digicel to Claro and the company’s future investments in the country.
After one year of competition in mobile communications, the changes that have taken place reveal a market that is different from how many expected.
The market transformation has been swift and contained surprising nuances. Cellular penetration swiftly exceeded 100%, while the use of mobile Internet exceeded forecasts.
Pablo Fonseca's article in Nacion.com reports that "Although more changes will come in the short and medium term, it is good to take stock. Many people were clear that the Costa Rican market was no ordinary market and had certain characteristics that needed to be taken into account when dealing with it, such as a thirst for technology, the level of information being handled, the requirements to be able to receive what is being offered and the level of spending willing to be made for a handset “
The obstacles faceed in Costa Rica by the companies Claro and Movistar have already stalled investments of more than $300 million.
According to an article in Elfinancierocr.com George Miley, the resigning president of the Superintendency of Telecommunications (Sutel) warns that "it is urgent that there is a major push by the government to level the playing field in the industry sector, as the country has not received between $300 and $400 million in foreign investment in the last year, due to the problems faced by Claro and Movistar in developing their networks. "
Chinese companies such as Xin Wei, Wang Wei y Datang Mobile have been added Movistar, Claro and another two unidentified Telecom’s companies in the list of those cinterested in the bidding for the 1785-1805 MHz band.
Indications from Costa Rica are that the state run telecommunications company was one of those who acquired the documents for conditions of the bid, valued at $3,000.
The Government of Nicaragua is negotiating with a Chinese company to buy a $300 million satellite, whose installation will begin in March 2013 and will be completed in 2016.
The purchase and subsequent installation of the satellite will help reduce the cost of cellular services, expand internet to rural areas and provide a system for monitoring and natural disaster prevention.
The Superintendency of Electricity and Telecommunications in El Salvador is putting out to tender the supply and installation of a wireless telecommunications network to interconnect schools.
The Superintendency of Electricity and Telecommunications (SIGET), has created a tender for the design, supply, installation and implementation of a Wireless Telecommunications Network for the interconnection of public schools in the Northern, Central and Western parts of the country and the Ministry of Education’s Data Center (MINED).
The Banco Popular and the Banco de Desarrollo Comunal in Costa Rica have created a tender for the construction of electricity networks and structured cabling for voice and data.
The contract includes hiring companies that offer design services, labor, materials and equipment for the construction of electricity networks and structured cabling for voice and data in all offices of Banco Popular (consumer demand).
The telephone operators Claro and Movistar are still facing serious bureaucratic obstacles with the municipalities of Costa Rica over the installation of cellular towers.
Some municipalities are delaying, hindering or even prohibiting the installation of infrastructure by the operators Claro and Movistar, an operation which needs to be carried out in order to comply with their contracts.