Costa Rica lags in fixed broadband penetration and also trails its neighbors in terms of 5G implementation, according to the OECD. “Regulatory barriers on e-communications are relatively high in Costa Rica. Excessive and sometimes inconsistent regulations across public institutions also hinders infrastructure deployment. Heterogeneous regulations at municipal level are a particular concern”, the Paris-based organization said in a report on the country’s economy. Costa Rica recently published a law to facilitate telecom infrastructure deployment and enable the use of public spaces for such infrastructure. Expanding access to fixed broadband, which stands at about 34 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, should be a priority, according to OECD. While mobile service prices are “significantly lower than in regional peers and at par with the OECD average in terms of affordability”, fixed broadband remains significantly above, it said. OECD highlighted that Costa Ricans need nearly 15% of their monthly income to pay for a fixed broadband connection compared to only 2% in the case of mobile broadband. The country’s 2027 telecom development plan sets out several connectivity goals, including increasing internet access and speeds. Fixed broadband accesses totaled 1.05mn at the end of 2021, according to latest data from sector regulator Sutel . […]
