During the third quarter of 2021 there was a growth in the Central American region in fiber optic cable imports by $10 million, reaching $55 million in purchases, the main supplier is China with $18 million.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
From January to September 2020, Central American countries imported fiber optic cables for $45 million, 18% more than what was reported in the same period of 2019, a rise that is explained by the behavior of purchases from Panama, Nicaragua and Guatemala.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Department of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graph"]
In the first semester of 2020, Central American countries imported $31 million in optical fiber cables, 29% more than what was reported in the same period of 2019, a rise that is explained by the behavior of purchases from Nicaragua, Panama, Guatemala and Costa Rica.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graph"]
Between January and September 2019, Central America invested $38 million in imports of fiber optic cable, 18% less than in the same period in 2018, with Nicaragua and Costa Rica being the markets that registered the most significant reductions.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphics"]
In the department of Escuintla, Guatemala, an underwater fiber optic cable is planned to be installed, which will be used for telecommunications services such as Internet, data and communication.
According to the interactive platform "Construction in Central America" of the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData, Telecomunicaciones de Guatemala, S.A. submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to develop the project called, "SPSC-Southern Pacific Submarine Cable System."
Consistent with the 6% decline reported in 2018 with respect to 2017, in the first half of this year the import of fiber optic cable in Central America registered a 20% year-on-year decline.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAPHIC caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
After imports of fiber optic cables in Central America fell 6% in 2018 compared to 2017, the first quarter of 2019 recorded a 33% year-on-year decline.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAPHIC caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
From January to September 2018, companies in Central American countries imported optical fiber cables for $46 million, and 63% were bought by companies in Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
Data from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphics]
The Costa Rican Institute of Electricity calls for an international tender for the supply of several types of electrical materials, under the modality of delivery on demand.
Costa Rica Government Purchase 2019LI-000002-0000400001:
"Detail of some requested materials:
-Cable with 288 optical fibres, ADSS type, single mode, uit-t G.657.A2 recommendation, on reel, for indoor and outdoor electrical use.
The lack of proper infrastructure and the lack of allocation of radio spectrum are some of the reasons why it is difficult for telecommunications companies to improve Internet connection or lower prices for services.
Internet operators in Costa Rica face adversities to improve service and provide better prices to consumers, including the deficit of appropriate infrastructure.
From January to June 2018, companies in Central American countries imported fiber optic cables for $30 million, 32% more than in the same period in 2017.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
In 2016 Costa Rica bought abroad $147 million worth of wires and electric cables, 18% more than in 2015.
Figures from the information system on the the Market for Electric Wires and Cables in Costa Rica, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with the graph"]
With funding from South Korea and the IDB, plans have been made to install 3,500 kilometers of fiber optics in the next two years, with an estimated $100 million investment.
Telcor's general manager, Orlando Castillo, explained that the process of implementing the network of 3500 kilometers of fiber optics will take all of 2017 to complete, and it is expected it will be finished and ready to start operating in early 2018.
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."