GSM Cellular Lines On Sale This Week
The Instituto Costarricence de Electricidad (ICE) - the state telecom monopoly - announced yesterday that it will have available some 40.000 GSM cellular lines this week.

Those interested in obtaining a GSM line will be able to do so beginning on Thursday (May 10) when they can call the "145" or visit any ICE agency to make an appointment, though the lines will be available beginning May 15.

ICE says these are lines that customers have lost for failure to pay their bills or have voluntarily given up. The institution is tough on overdue bills, cutting service within 8 days of the due date and canceling subscriptions of service with two missed payments.

The GSM lines can be subscribed to by anyone with a "cedula" by visiting an ICE agency and paying the ¢12.500 colones deposit. ICE insists that customers have to bring in their GSM cellular phone and the proof of purchase, as well as recent utility bill.

Non residents in Costa Rica cannot subscribe to cellular service in the country and since ICE only permits the transfer of its cellular lines under very strict circumstances, caution must be exercised when making arrangements for a cellular line that is not in the users name.

Authorized retailers will also have the cellular lines available, however, their sales are limited to 60% of the available lines.

As in the past, ICE expects a sell out within days.