América Móvil‘s Claro and Telefónica‘s Movistar, new entrants to Costa Rica’s wireless market, have appealed to the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Telecommunications (Minaet) to extend their network rollout deadline. Local paper El Financiero reported both telecom operators said they are facing difficulties installing radio bases. The deadline for the first stage of network development plan is July 14.
The carriers obtained a license in January 2011 to operate in Costa Rica and launched operations in the fourth quarter of 2011, ending a telecom monopoly. Each one has guaranteed 1 million lines. On March 4 this year, Movistar noted that together with Claro, they have reached a half million customers.
In February, Costa Rica’s government published a report noting the state telecommunications company, Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE), owned 4 million mobile lines; Claro accounted for 154,000 while Movistar had 150,000.
When the carriers obtained their licenses, they were obliged to roll out networks in three stages within five years, with the first phase due to be completed by mid-July of 2012. The two carriers launched services over GSM and W-CDMA networks in late November 2011.
The ministry’s decision whether or not to accept the delay is expected to be released today. If accepted by the ministry, the country’s telecom regulator Sutel will have 30 calendar days to provide a report and a technical recommendation to the executive branch.
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