- The Executive Branch assigned 70 MHz of radio spectrum for the Claro and Telefónica companies, with the aim of improving the quality of mobile telecommunications services for the benefit of all users.
- The US $43 million will be allocated to the National Telecommunications Fund (FONATEL), and used for the implementation of projects that aim to benefit people in vulnerable conditions or who live in areas where investment is not commercially attractive.
San José, Monday, March 5, 2018. Claro and Telefónica bid $19,000,000 and $24,000,000 respectively for the contracts of the international public tender for the use and exploitation of radio spectrum that will make more spectrum available to telecommunications operators for the deployment and strengthening of International Mobile Telecommunications networks.
Claro was awarded 2×10 MHz in the 1800 MHz band and 2×5 MHz in the 2100 MHz band, Telefónica was awarded 2×20 MHz in both the 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz bands.
For Edwin Estrada, Vice Minister of Telecommunications "This tender that we have just concluded and whose contracts were endorsed by the Comptroller General of the Republic weeks ago, brings various benefits for the inhabitant.
In the first instance, the issue of quality, since the objective of this tender is to improve quality, together with the first objective of the first tender that was launched in 2011 and that was the topic of penetration, which according to statistics is compliment.
Another benefit is the entry of fresh resources into the National Telecommunications Fund to be invested in projects aimed at people in vulnerable conditions and people living in economically unattractive areas for the investment made by companies.
This money will be used to bring connectivity, digital literacy and that people regardless of their condition and the areas where they live, have access to telecommunications quality services with which they can improve their quality of life through the productive use of technologies of information, "said Vice Minister Estrada.
With this second concession, the Executive Power, in compliance with the principles of publicity, transparency and freedom of participation, assigned 70 MHz of radio spectrum for Claro and Telefónica companies, with the aim of improving the quality of mobile telecommunications services in benefit of all users, ensuring that the country gets the benefits of technological progress from an efficient and effective allocation of a strategic resource of the State.
With this concession, they entered US $ 43 million into the National Telecommunications Fund (FONATEL). These resources will be used for the implementation of projects that aim to reduce the digital divide of the population that has conditions of vulnerability, in accordance with the objectives of universal access, universal service and solidarity defined in the General Law of Telecommunications and the National Plan of Development of Telecommunications (PNDT).
In 2011, the first concession of radio spectrum for mobile networks marked the entry of more competitors to the newly opened telecommunications market, whose objective was to increase the penetration of mobile telephony services.