Cellular Connection Problems Continue
Though the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) announced on Friday the purchase of 300.000 new GSM cellular telephone lines, the news does not help current customers who are still plagued with poor to lousy service.

The problem was clearly evident during the past week, depending on the location and the telephone number, some cellular phones had little or no coverage for hours on end.

And the problem stillcontinues today.

Frustrating callers only get a ringing tone, while the receiver stays silent.

According to Claudio Bermúdez, ICE's telecommunications sub-director, that the institution is working on bettering service in high traffic areas.

In some areas like Santo Domingo de Heredia, residents have been complaining for almost two weeks of no service. Angelica Vargas, a resident who spoke on Telenoticias, said "I have been tried to use my phone for the last 15 days and all I get is a message to try agian or call failed...".

And the problem is not better trying to locate and make or receive a call near an ICE cell tower, because there is no signal going to the towers in some areas.

Friday ICE said it signed a contract that needs to be ratified by the Comptroller's office for the expansion of the Ericsson network. Ericsson installed in 2005 600.000 GSM lines and the contract allows for expansion of 300.000 without ICE having to go through the bidding process.

The same provision is in the Alcatel contract which installed the original 400.000 lines network. However, accusations of payoffs by Alcatel to ICE officials, prompted the Institución to pass.