The essential modernization of technical and administrative rules governing the sector is being hampered by the proposed inclusion of rules to control content.
EDITORIAL
The vaudeville act (from the Royal Spanish Academy: frivolous, light and spicy comedy based around intrigue and misunderstandings) presented and represented by the government of Costa Rica, regarding the development and "socialization" of the proposed new Telecommunications Act , has produced as its first result t a leaderless Ministry of Science, Technology and Telecommunications (Micitt).
The supervisor of telecommunications and major operators have agreed to implement number portability in November 2013.
After arguing that it was technically impossible to implement the necessary equipment until March 2014, "the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) agreed to accelerate the purchase of equipment in order to implement number portability, while Movistar and Claro operators relaxed deadlines for developing the system which had been agreed on months ago," noted an article in Elfinancierocr.com.
The state telecoms company says it can not adapt its systems to number portability by March 2014.
The ICE has set up every possible legal and administrative resource in order to prevent the entry into operation of number portability, so that it can perpetuate its business advantage (captive customers) in the light of newcomers. Now it is simply reporting that it is technically unprepared to join the system by which mobile phone users can retain their telephone identification when moving from one operator to another.
After the regulator SUTEL’s rejection of a petition by the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad to delay the implementation of number portability, the original date of February 2013 has been maintained.
The Superintendency of Telecommunications (Sutel) will launch on September 17th a competition for the selection of a company to provide complete management services for the implementation, operation and management of the Integrated Number Portability system for Costa Rica.
Since November 2010 installing a cell phone tower within 15 kilometers of a Costa Rican airport has required a detailed analysis and authorisation by the Civil Aviation Authority.
Prior to that date, the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) had no trouble installing the towers, but now the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has decided to adhere to international standards and make everyone endure the the red tape required for granting installation permits.
While operators are putting up new antennas, the lack of regulation in the field is creating problems for the future.
The opening of the telecommunications market in the country has been accompanied by a significant increase in the installation of new antennas, many of them owned by private companies that will join the market when the privatisation process is formalized.
The new law prohibits contacting individuals directly to sell items or services without their specific prior permission.
The new telecommunications law prohibits the use of "automated calling systems for direct sales by voice, fax, email or by any other means," to contact individuals who have not given prior consent.
These restrictions came into effect on June 30 and is the first regulation in the country of the growing business practice of sending unsolicited information.
Investments in telecommunications in Honduras are being held up by delays in approval by the National Congress of a framework law for the sector.
"Private phone operators reckon they will have cancelled plans for US$50 million of investment by the end of this year," said a spokesman for the telephone companies' association, Asetel.
"What we're looking for is a law that makes clear the rules of the game and ensures a level playing field," he added.
The first reading of a bill to open up Costa Rica's telecommunications market was approved by legislators at the second time of asking.
Twenty-nine members of the single-chamber Legislative Assembly voted for the proposal, while 13 opposed it.
The bill's first reading had already been approved in February, but the Supreme Court's Constitutional Chamber over turned the finding six weeks later.
Congress yesterday approved in a first hearing the General Telecommunications Law, which opens the way to competition as part of the implementation of the free-trade agreement with the United States, Agencia EFE reports.
The bill was approved, by 39 votes to 13, with 52 of 57 congress members present. The second and last hearing will follow in the next few days.
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