Costa Rica’s 5G mobile inches closer
Costa Rica’s Ministry of Science, Technology, and Telecommunications in November 2021 reiterated that it sought to recover 5G-suitable frequencies from the state-owned telco Grupo ICE. ICE’s mobile business unit Kölbi holds 5G-suitable frequencies in several bands identified for 5G. The government is rpressing to have these blocks made available for 5G, with an auction expected in 2022. Grupo ICE faces not being paid compensation for the blocks which it will be asked to return, partly on the basis that the company had either failed to use them or had underused them.
Overall, the Costa Rican telecom sector in 2020 was underwhelming, with minimal growth in some areas while other market sectors experienced contractions. Two bright spots were the fixed broadband market, which continues to expand in size and performance: the length of the fibre network increased 56% in 2020, reaching 176,000km. Broadband data speeds are also increasing dramatically, with most services now offering speeds greater than 10Mb/s. In the mobile broadband sector, the subscriber penetration rate approached 100% at the en dof 2021.
Table of Contents
Key Statistics
Country overview
Telecommunications market
Appendix Historic dataGlossary of abbreviationsRelated Reports
Regional Latin America market comparison
- Market characteristics
- Market Leaders
- Market Challengers
- Market Emergents
- TMI versus GDP
- Mobile and mobile broadband penetration
- Fixed versus mobile broadband penetration
Covid-19 and its impact on the telecom sector
- Economic considerations and responses
- Subscribers
- Infrastructure
Regulatory environment
- Historical overview
- Regulatory authority
- Fixed-line developments
Mobile market
- Mobile statistics
- Mobile data
- Mobile broadband
- Mobile infrastructure
- Major mobile operators
Fixed-line broadband market
- Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) networks
- Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks
- Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks
- Other fixed-line broadband services
Fixed network market
- Major network operators
Telecommunications infrastructure
- National telecom network
- Internet Exchange Points (IXPs)
- International infrastructure
- Wholesale
List of Tables
Table 1 Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities Costa Rica 2021 (e)
Table 2 Evolution of GDP in Costa Rica 2011 2021
Table 3 Number of authorised telecom service operators 2011 2020
Table 4 Growth in telecom sector revenue and annual change 2011 2020
Table 5 Change in telecom revenue by sector (C$ billion) 2011 2020
Table 6 Change in revenue market share by sector 2011 2020
Table 7 Growth in the number of mobile number portings 2013 2020
Table 8 Development of roaming revenue (SMS/MMS and voice) (C$ million) 2013 2020
Table 9 Fonatel investment in telecoms (C$ million) 2012 2020
Table 10 Fonatel covered premises, people 2015 2020
Table 11 Change in the mobile market share by operator 2011 2020
Table 12 Change in the number of mobile subscribers by main operator (million) 2012 2020
Table 13 Development of mobile revenue by service (C$ billion) 2011 2020
Table 14 Proportion of mobile service revenue by type 2011 2020
Table 15 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2011 2026
Table 16 Change in the number of prepaid and contract subscribers 2010 2020
Table 17 Change in the proportion of prepaid and postpaid subscribers 2010 2020
Table 18 Mobile voice traffic 2011 2020
Table 20 Development of prepaid and contract mobile ARPU (C$/subscriber/month) 2011 2020
Table 21 SMS and MMS traffic 2011 2020
Table 22 Average SMS traffic sent per user per month 2014 2020MMS data is zero for 2020.
Table 23 Decline in SMS/MMS revenue 2011 2020
Table 24 Growth in the number of mobile internet subscribers and penetration 2011 2026
Table 25 Mobile, broadband subscriptions enabled via Fonatel 2014 2020
Table 26 Growth in mobile internet revenue 2013 2020
Table 27 Growth in mobile internet traffic 2013 2020
Table 28 ICE mobile subscribers 2010 2020
Table 29 Movistar mobile subscribers 2011 2020
Table 30 Claro mobile subscribers 2011 2020
Table 31 Change in the number of MVNO mobile subscribers by provider 2011 2020
Table 32 Change in the proportion of fixed internet connections by data rate 2015 2019
Table 33 Change in the number of fixed internet connections by data rate (new style) 2019 2020
Table 34 Change in the proportion of fixed broadband subscribers by technology 2015 2020
Table 35 Fixed-line internet traffic and annual change 2013 2020
Table 36 Fixed-line broadband revenue and ARPU 2011 2020
Table 37 Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2011 2026
Table 38 Growth in the number of cable modem subscribers and penetration 2011 2020
Table 39 DSL subscribers and household penetration 2011 2020
Table 40 Development of Cabletica's financial data ($ million) 2019 2021
Table 41 Growth in the number of Cabletica's fixed broadband premises passed 2018 2021
Table 42 Increase in the number of fibre broadband subscribers 2010 2020
Table 43 Change in the number of WiMAX subscribers 2009 2020
Table 45 Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity 2011 2026
Table 46 Change in the proportion of traditional fixed and VoIP lines 2011 2020
Table 48 Change in VoIP market share of subscribers by operator 2011 2020
Table 49 Change in PSTN and VoIP revenue (C$ million) 2012 2020
Table 50 Development of PSTN telephony and VoIP ARPU (C$ per month) 2012 2020
Table 51 Average PSTN telephony and VoIP revenue per minute (C$ per minute) 2011 2020
Table 52 Change in fixed-line telephony and VoIP traffic (billion minutes) 2010 2020
Table 53 Change in the average telephony traffic per subscriber (fixed-line and VoIP, minutes per subscriber) 2010 2020
Table 54 Development of ICE's financial data (C$ billion) 2010 2021
Table 55 Growth in the number of Cabletica's fixed-line subscribers 2018 2021
Table 56 Growth in the number of Cabletica's RGUs 2018 2021
Table 57 Development of Cabletica's ARPU 2018 2021
Table 58 Growth in international internet bandwidth 2011 2020
Table 59 Wholesale fixed-line broadband lines and revenue 2015 2020
Table 60 Historic - Evolution of GDP in Costa Rica 2000 2010
Table 61 Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration 1998 2010
Table 62 Historic - Internet users and user penetration 1997 2015
Table 63 Historic - Fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2000 2010
Table 64 Historic - Broadband market share by technology 2000 2008
Table 65 Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity 1997 2010
Table 66 Historic - Cable modem subscribers and household penetration 2000 2010
Table 67 Historic - DSL subscribers and household penetration 2002 2010
Table 68 Historic - Growth in the number of mobile internet subscribers and penetration 2009 2010
Table 69 Historic - Growth in international internet bandwidth 2007 2010
Table 2 Evolution of GDP in Costa Rica 2011 2021
Table 3 Number of authorised telecom service operators 2011 2020
Table 4 Growth in telecom sector revenue and annual change 2011 2020
Table 5 Change in telecom revenue by sector (C$ billion) 2011 2020
Table 6 Change in revenue market share by sector 2011 2020
Table 7 Growth in the number of mobile number portings 2013 2020
Table 8 Development of roaming revenue (SMS/MMS and voice) (C$ million) 2013 2020
Table 9 Fonatel investment in telecoms (C$ million) 2012 2020
Table 10 Fonatel covered premises, people 2015 2020
Table 11 Change in the mobile market share by operator 2011 2020
Table 12 Change in the number of mobile subscribers by main operator (million) 2012 2020
Table 13 Development of mobile revenue by service (C$ billion) 2011 2020
Table 14 Proportion of mobile service revenue by type 2011 2020
Table 15 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2011 2026
Table 16 Change in the number of prepaid and contract subscribers 2010 2020
Table 17 Change in the proportion of prepaid and postpaid subscribers 2010 2020
Table 18 Mobile voice traffic 2011 2020
Table 20 Development of prepaid and contract mobile ARPU (C$/subscriber/month) 2011 2020
Table 21 SMS and MMS traffic 2011 2020
Table 22 Average SMS traffic sent per user per month 2014 2020MMS data is zero for 2020.
Table 23 Decline in SMS/MMS revenue 2011 2020
Table 24 Growth in the number of mobile internet subscribers and penetration 2011 2026
Table 25 Mobile, broadband subscriptions enabled via Fonatel 2014 2020
Table 26 Growth in mobile internet revenue 2013 2020
Table 27 Growth in mobile internet traffic 2013 2020
Table 28 ICE mobile subscribers 2010 2020
Table 29 Movistar mobile subscribers 2011 2020
Table 30 Claro mobile subscribers 2011 2020
Table 31 Change in the number of MVNO mobile subscribers by provider 2011 2020
Table 32 Change in the proportion of fixed internet connections by data rate 2015 2019
Table 33 Change in the number of fixed internet connections by data rate (new style) 2019 2020
Table 34 Change in the proportion of fixed broadband subscribers by technology 2015 2020
Table 35 Fixed-line internet traffic and annual change 2013 2020
Table 36 Fixed-line broadband revenue and ARPU 2011 2020
Table 37 Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2011 2026
Table 38 Growth in the number of cable modem subscribers and penetration 2011 2020
Table 39 DSL subscribers and household penetration 2011 2020
Table 40 Development of Cabletica's financial data ($ million) 2019 2021
Table 41 Growth in the number of Cabletica's fixed broadband premises passed 2018 2021
Table 42 Increase in the number of fibre broadband subscribers 2010 2020
Table 43 Change in the number of WiMAX subscribers 2009 2020
Table 45 Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity 2011 2026
Table 46 Change in the proportion of traditional fixed and VoIP lines 2011 2020
Table 48 Change in VoIP market share of subscribers by operator 2011 2020
Table 49 Change in PSTN and VoIP revenue (C$ million) 2012 2020
Table 50 Development of PSTN telephony and VoIP ARPU (C$ per month) 2012 2020
Table 51 Average PSTN telephony and VoIP revenue per minute (C$ per minute) 2011 2020
Table 52 Change in fixed-line telephony and VoIP traffic (billion minutes) 2010 2020
Table 53 Change in the average telephony traffic per subscriber (fixed-line and VoIP, minutes per subscriber) 2010 2020
Table 54 Development of ICE's financial data (C$ billion) 2010 2021
Table 55 Growth in the number of Cabletica's fixed-line subscribers 2018 2021
Table 56 Growth in the number of Cabletica's RGUs 2018 2021
Table 57 Development of Cabletica's ARPU 2018 2021
Table 58 Growth in international internet bandwidth 2011 2020
Table 59 Wholesale fixed-line broadband lines and revenue 2015 2020
Table 60 Historic - Evolution of GDP in Costa Rica 2000 2010
Table 61 Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration 1998 2010
Table 62 Historic - Internet users and user penetration 1997 2015
Table 63 Historic - Fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2000 2010
Table 64 Historic - Broadband market share by technology 2000 2008
Table 65 Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity 1997 2010
Table 66 Historic - Cable modem subscribers and household penetration 2000 2010
Table 67 Historic - DSL subscribers and household penetration 2002 2010
Table 68 Historic - Growth in the number of mobile internet subscribers and penetration 2009 2010
Table 69 Historic - Growth in international internet bandwidth 2007 2010
List of Charts
Chart 1 Latin America Telecoms Maturity Index Market Leaders
Chart 2 Latin America Telecoms Maturity Index Market Challengers
Chart 3 Latin America Telecoms Maturity Index Market Emergents
Chart 4 Latin America - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per capita
Chart 5 Latin America Mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 6 South America mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 7 Central America mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 8 South America Fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 9 Central America Fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 10 Growth in telecom sector revenue and annual change 2011 2020
Chart 11 Change in telecom revenue by sector 2011 2020
Chart 12 Change in revenue market share by sector 2011 2020
Chart 13 Growth in the number of mobile number portings 2013 2020
Chart 14 Development of roaming revenue (SMS/MMS and voice) 2013 2020
Chart 15 Fonatel investment in telecoms 2012 2020
Chart 16 Fonatel covered premises, people 2015 2020
Chart 17 Change in the mobile market share by operator 2011 2020
Chart 18 Change in the number of mobile subscribers by main operator 2012 2020
Chart 19 Development of mobile revenue by service 2011 2020
Chart 20 Proportion of mobile service revenue by type 2011 2020
Chart 21 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2011 2026
Chart 22 Change in the number of prepaid and contract subscribers 2010 2020
Chart 23 Change in the proportion of prepaid and postpaid subscribers 2010 2020
Chart 24 Mobile voice traffic 2011 2020
Chart 25 Average traffic per mobile subscriber 2012 2020
Chart 26 Development of prepaid and contract mobile ARPU 2011 2020
Chart 27 Decline in SMS/MMS revenue 2011 2020
Chart 28 Growth in the number of mobile internet subscribers and penetration 2011 2026
Chart 29 Mobile, broadband subscriptions enabled via Fonatel 2014 2020
Chart 30 Growth in mobile internet revenue 2013 2020
Chart 31 Growth in mobile internet traffic 2013 2020
Chart 32 ICE mobile subscribers 2010 2020
Chart 33 Movistar mobile subscribers 2011 2020
Chart 34 Claro mobile subscribers 2011 2020
Chart 35 Change in the number of MVNO mobile subscribers by provider 2011 2020
Chart 36 Change in the proportion of fixed internet connections by data rate 2015 2020
Chart 37 Change in the number of fixed internet connections by data rate (new style) 2019 2020
Chart 38 Change in the proportion of fixed broadband subscribers by technology 2015 2020
Chart 39 Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2011 2026
Chart 40 Growth in the number of cable modem subscribers and penetration 2011 2020
Chart 41 DSL subscribers and household penetration 2011 2020
Chart 42 Development of Cabletica's financial data ($ million) 2019 2021
Chart 43 Growth in the number of Cabletica's fixed broadband premises passed 2018 2021
Chart 44 Increase in the number of fibre broadband subscribers 2010 2020
Chart 45 Change in the number of WiMAX subscribers 2009 2020
Chart 46 Decline in the number of PSTN lines and penetration 2010 2020
Chart 47 Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity 2011 2026
Chart 48 Change in the proportion of traditional fixed and VoIP lines 2011 2020
Chart 49 Growth in the number of VoIP connections and penetration 2010 2020
Chart 50 Change in PSTN and VoIP revenue 2012 2020
Chart 51 Development of PSTN telephony and VoIP ARPU 2012 2020
Chart 52 Average PSTN telephony and VoIP revenue per minute 2011 2020
Chart 53 Change in fixed-line telephony and VoIP traffic 2010 2020
Chart 54 Change in the average telephony traffic per subscriber (fixed-line and VoIP) 2010 2020
Chart 55 Development of ICE's financial data 2010 2021
Chart 56 Growth in the number of Cabletica's fixed-line subscribers 2018 2021
Chart 57 Growth in the number of Cabletica's RGUs 2018 2021
Chart 58 Development of Cabletica's ARPU 2018 2021
Chart 59 Growth in international internet bandwidth 2011 2020
Chart 2 Latin America Telecoms Maturity Index Market Challengers
Chart 3 Latin America Telecoms Maturity Index Market Emergents
Chart 4 Latin America - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per capita
Chart 5 Latin America Mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 6 South America mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 7 Central America mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 8 South America Fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 9 Central America Fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 10 Growth in telecom sector revenue and annual change 2011 2020
Chart 11 Change in telecom revenue by sector 2011 2020
Chart 12 Change in revenue market share by sector 2011 2020
Chart 13 Growth in the number of mobile number portings 2013 2020
Chart 14 Development of roaming revenue (SMS/MMS and voice) 2013 2020
Chart 15 Fonatel investment in telecoms 2012 2020
Chart 16 Fonatel covered premises, people 2015 2020
Chart 17 Change in the mobile market share by operator 2011 2020
Chart 18 Change in the number of mobile subscribers by main operator 2012 2020
Chart 19 Development of mobile revenue by service 2011 2020
Chart 20 Proportion of mobile service revenue by type 2011 2020
Chart 21 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2011 2026
Chart 22 Change in the number of prepaid and contract subscribers 2010 2020
Chart 23 Change in the proportion of prepaid and postpaid subscribers 2010 2020
Chart 24 Mobile voice traffic 2011 2020
Chart 25 Average traffic per mobile subscriber 2012 2020
Chart 26 Development of prepaid and contract mobile ARPU 2011 2020
Chart 27 Decline in SMS/MMS revenue 2011 2020
Chart 28 Growth in the number of mobile internet subscribers and penetration 2011 2026
Chart 29 Mobile, broadband subscriptions enabled via Fonatel 2014 2020
Chart 30 Growth in mobile internet revenue 2013 2020
Chart 31 Growth in mobile internet traffic 2013 2020
Chart 32 ICE mobile subscribers 2010 2020
Chart 33 Movistar mobile subscribers 2011 2020
Chart 34 Claro mobile subscribers 2011 2020
Chart 35 Change in the number of MVNO mobile subscribers by provider 2011 2020
Chart 36 Change in the proportion of fixed internet connections by data rate 2015 2020
Chart 37 Change in the number of fixed internet connections by data rate (new style) 2019 2020
Chart 38 Change in the proportion of fixed broadband subscribers by technology 2015 2020
Chart 39 Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2011 2026
Chart 40 Growth in the number of cable modem subscribers and penetration 2011 2020
Chart 41 DSL subscribers and household penetration 2011 2020
Chart 42 Development of Cabletica's financial data ($ million) 2019 2021
Chart 43 Growth in the number of Cabletica's fixed broadband premises passed 2018 2021
Chart 44 Increase in the number of fibre broadband subscribers 2010 2020
Chart 45 Change in the number of WiMAX subscribers 2009 2020
Chart 46 Decline in the number of PSTN lines and penetration 2010 2020
Chart 47 Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity 2011 2026
Chart 48 Change in the proportion of traditional fixed and VoIP lines 2011 2020
Chart 49 Growth in the number of VoIP connections and penetration 2010 2020
Chart 50 Change in PSTN and VoIP revenue 2012 2020
Chart 51 Development of PSTN telephony and VoIP ARPU 2012 2020
Chart 52 Average PSTN telephony and VoIP revenue per minute 2011 2020
Chart 53 Change in fixed-line telephony and VoIP traffic 2010 2020
Chart 54 Change in the average telephony traffic per subscriber (fixed-line and VoIP) 2010 2020
Chart 55 Development of ICE's financial data 2010 2021
Chart 56 Growth in the number of Cabletica's fixed-line subscribers 2018 2021
Chart 57 Growth in the number of Cabletica's RGUs 2018 2021
Chart 58 Development of Cabletica's ARPU 2018 2021
Chart 59 Growth in international internet bandwidth 2011 2020
List of Exhibits
Exhibit 1 Map of Telecom Maturity Index global ranking among countries in Latin America
Exhibit 2 Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 3 Latin America Market Leaders and market developments
Exhibit 4 Latin America Market Challengers and market developments
Exhibit 5 Latin America Market Emergents and market developments
Exhibit 6 Major submarine cable networks connecting Costa Rica
Exhibit 2 Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 3 Latin America Market Leaders and market developments
Exhibit 4 Latin America Market Challengers and market developments
Exhibit 5 Latin America Market Emergents and market developments
Exhibit 6 Major submarine cable networks connecting Costa Rica
