ICE "Promises" Better Cellular
Service
The Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) promises to
improve cellular service in the country with the introduction of the
950.000 new next generation cellular service.
Claudio Bermúdez, subgerente de Telecomunicaciones, explained that
once the 3G network is installed, ICE will have available 2.6
million cellular lines, enough to meet the demands of the country
and face the coming competition in the telecommunications market.
The 3G contract was recently awarded to China's Huawei Technologies
and is expected to be installed and working by the end of 2009.
In addition to the Huawei contract, Bermúdez said that ICE is in the
process of purchasing some 200 new radio bases that will enhance
reception and coverage.
ICE has had a constant problem with meeting the demands of Costa
Ricans for cellular service. Earlier this month the state telecom
began selling off the first 100.000 of the 300.000 new GSM lines,
first to the 150.000 on the waiting list and then to the general
public, as it makes another 100.000 lines available next month and
another 100.000 lines in March.
The introduction of the 300.000 lines is due to an expansion of the
current GSM networks and is the first time more than a year that ICE
has been able to offer "new" cellular lines.
Several months ago legislators approved the Ley de
Telecommunicaciones which breaks ICE's 80 year monopoly on
telecommunications in the country and with the establishment of the
Superintendencia de Telecommunicaciones (SUTEL), ICE will face
competition from other carriers who are expteced to set up shop in
the coming year.
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