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.
A report by Akamai highlights an 8.4% drop in the average connection speed in Costa Rica in the second quarter compared to the same period last year.
Between late 2014 and June this year, Costa Rica fell 20 positions in the ranking of broadband Internet, surpassing only Paraguay, Bolivia and Venezuela. Panama recorded a slight growth of 1% in the period in question, while Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Honduras, did not even figure in the report.
Using a World Bank loan coverage and internet telephony will be expanded in the North Caribbean Coast, the South Caribbean Coast, the Autonomous Region, and Rio San Juan and Managua.
From a statement issued by the World Bank:
MANAGUA, August 17, 2016 – The World Bank (WB) and the Government of Nicaragua signed today an agreement to implement a project aimed at increasing broadband access and make further progress in the development of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs), especially in the Caribbean region of Nicaragua.
The company will provide data transfer services in leased line mode using fiber optical links for a period of 10 years.
Nacion.com reports that "...The business model that the company described to the Sutel is to use the public telecommunications networks belonging to other operators, who already have proper authorization for the provision of services."
The Colon Free Zone is putting out to tender renewal of the main infrastructure of the electronic system to report commercial movements and the expansion of the same system for the Colón Free Port.
Panama Government Purchase 2016-2-96-0-03-LA-007574:
"The Administration of the Colon Free Zone wishes to hire a company for the 'technological renewal of the electronic system for declaring commercial movement (DMCE)' in order to maintain DMCE services, updating the platform, increasing the capacity of the system and minimizing disruption of electronic exchange of documentation for international trade.
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. "
Improving infrastructure and increasing competition from internet providers not only helps increase coverage and improve the service but also reduces its cost.
The fact that Nicaragua is the most expensive Central American country in terms of connecting to the internet means there is a need not only to improve basic infrastructure, but also to increase competition, thereby improving prices and services provided.
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 government has announced that before the end of the year they expected to tender part of the frequency spectrum which is not currently being used.
The Morales administration plan use the 700 MHz spectrum that is currently available on broadcast television as a part of the AWS band, allocating it to telecom operators in order to improve data transmission services.
The state run telecommunications company has announced it will be investing $100 million in internet infrastructure to offer broadband and fiber optics services.
The general manager of the Honduran Telecommunications Company (Hondutel), Jesus Mejia, said in remarks published by Latribuna.hn that they will be investing approximately $100 million, about 2,200 million lempiras to increase supply in two market segments.
An operator has warned that investments in the sector will be jeopardized by uncertainty regarding the renewal of concessions.
The breaking down of the relationship between the Salvadoran government and telecommunications companies has embarked on a new chapter. Uncertainty about whether the General Superintendency of Electricity and Telecommunications (Siget) will or will not auction 40 megahertz of the radio spectrum, is generating unease among some operators.
The Bank of Guatemala is putting out to tender digital phone services for the period from February 1, 2016 and January 31, 2019.
Guatemala Government Purchase 4316320:
"General characteristics:
- Digital telephony service provided through two ISDN links or RDSI by its acronym in Spanish (Red Digital de Servicios Integrados), E1.
- The Bank of Guatemala will appoint a specialist to coordinate and supervise the work of installation, programming and commissioning of the E1 ISDN links. "
A ruling by the Administrative Court found in favor of the state run telecoms company and obliges the regulator to update the relevant market data and level the playing field for all operators.
In the lawsuit, the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) argued that the failure to update data on relevant markets and operators prevented the Superintendency of Telecommunications from providing equal treatment to all telecommunications companies operating in the country. Because of this, Crhoy.com reports, "... only the ICE can be fined or receive penalties for noncompliance."
An increase in the rates for telecommunications services and its dollarization would generate market distortions and jeopardize the viability of investments in the sector.
From a statement issued by the Superior Council of Private Enterprise:
Last week we had again to inform and denounce to the public the approval of a unilateral administrative decision by Telcor.
The telecoms company merged with Columbus International announced its entry into the Costa Rican market, where it will focus on the segment of corporate services.
After having merged with Columbus International in late 2014, the company with a major operation in Panama, announced that it will be operating in Costa Rica, mainly providing corporate services such as internet links and national and international data (MPLS), managed networks, and services based on cloud security, among other things.