Rural Cooperatives Gain Spectrum Rights for 5G Deployment in 31 Cantons
Successful spectrum auction raises $1.5 million and secures deployment of 200 telecommunications towers in Costa Rica.
In a virtual spectrum auction held on Friday, four rural electrification cooperatives and an Internet Protocol (IP) telephony operator successfully acquired frequencies to deploy 5G technology across 31 cantons in Costa Rica.
The auction, which commenced at 9 a.m., concluded swiftly after a single bidding round where multiple operators bid for the same cantons.
This second phase of the regional spectrum auction generated $1.5 million in commitments and an obligation to establish 200 telecommunications towers.
The event followed a national coverage auction on Thursday, involving América Móvil (operating as Claro) and Liberty Latin America (Liberty), which committed to deploying 3,104 5G towers nationwide and securing spectrum rights for $32.5 million.
Combined, the two auction rounds led by the Superintendence of Telecommunications (Sutel) amassed a total of $34 million and secured the deployment of 3,304 antennas over the forthcoming five years.
Among the cooperatives, Coopealfaroruiz R. L. obtained frequencies for Grecia and San Ramón cantons.
Coopeguanacaste R. L. will cover seven cantons: Liberia, Nicoya, Santa Cruz, Carrillo, Nandayure, Hojancha, and Puntarenas.
Coopelesca R. L. plans to provide services in Alajuela, San Ramón, San Carlos, Los Chiles, Río Cuarto, and Sarapiquí.
Coopesantos R. L. will extend its 5G services to ten cantons: Desamparados, Puriscal, Tarrazú, Aserrí, Mora, Acosta, Dota, León Cortés, El Guarco, and Cartago.
Additionally, Ring Centrales de Costa Rica, an IP telephony specialist, acquired spectrum for 11 cantons, including San José, Escazú, Santa Ana, Montes de Oca, and Curridabat in San José province, as well as the head cantons of Alajuela, Cartago, Limón, Puntarenas, Heredia, and Liberia in Guanacaste.
The auction, which commenced at 9 a.m., concluded swiftly after a single bidding round where multiple operators bid for the same cantons.
This second phase of the regional spectrum auction generated $1.5 million in commitments and an obligation to establish 200 telecommunications towers.
The event followed a national coverage auction on Thursday, involving América Móvil (operating as Claro) and Liberty Latin America (Liberty), which committed to deploying 3,104 5G towers nationwide and securing spectrum rights for $32.5 million.
Combined, the two auction rounds led by the Superintendence of Telecommunications (Sutel) amassed a total of $34 million and secured the deployment of 3,304 antennas over the forthcoming five years.
Among the cooperatives, Coopealfaroruiz R. L. obtained frequencies for Grecia and San Ramón cantons.
Coopeguanacaste R. L. will cover seven cantons: Liberia, Nicoya, Santa Cruz, Carrillo, Nandayure, Hojancha, and Puntarenas.
Coopelesca R. L. plans to provide services in Alajuela, San Ramón, San Carlos, Los Chiles, Río Cuarto, and Sarapiquí.
Coopesantos R. L. will extend its 5G services to ten cantons: Desamparados, Puriscal, Tarrazú, Aserrí, Mora, Acosta, Dota, León Cortés, El Guarco, and Cartago.
Additionally, Ring Centrales de Costa Rica, an IP telephony specialist, acquired spectrum for 11 cantons, including San José, Escazú, Santa Ana, Montes de Oca, and Curridabat in San José province, as well as the head cantons of Alajuela, Cartago, Limón, Puntarenas, Heredia, and Liberia in Guanacaste.
