Costa Rica Internet – Lagging behind on Internet

[Nasser]

Scott or anyone in CR…

Is the internet there not owned and run by the government or controlled by? I thought it is was, but the statement in the artical listed above through me off “The study invites Internet providers and public and private companies to increase the quality and amount of accesses to high speed internet in the region.”

Any comments or direction where I can read more on this would be appreciated.

Regards

[twor99]

I don’t know the article you are referring to, but I’d love to read it.

Nowhere is the Internet “owned” by anyone. It is, after all, an inter-network of millions of individual machines.

That being said, the bandwidth, or “connection to the internet”, in Costa Rica is available through two different companies, both extensions of I.C.E. – the government’s telecommunications division. They sell bandwidth to many privately owned companies that provide hosting facilities, web services, etc. to individuals and companies alike. They also sell to individuals through DSL and cable providers. For the most part they do not control the content whatesover, any more than a comparable company in any other part of the Developed World does.

Costa Rica is also making moves to allow other bandwidth providers the ability to sell there services here. This is a requirement of CAFTA. Many foreign companies are rumored to have already set up a presence here in anticipation, AT&T being one.

Hope this helps shed some light on the issue. I am definitely interested in reading more.

[genn789]

If you want access to the internet you can do that by cable, your provider will be RACSA….. If you want internet by telephone-line (+ADSL) you provider will be RACSA….. That is the choice (..?..) at this moment, and yes it is run by the government.

[Andrew]

Reposted here for Nasser

Maybe my question was a little broad or vague. The article is in this site, message headline the same. I thought Gore built the net! 😉 Anyway, I run an ISP here, state side already and looked BRIEFLY into the possibilities of running one in CR. I wanted more information on restrictions of building an ISP there and difficulties of dealing with the telcos(telephone companies) there. My current business is in an area with a Coop. and only one source for certain circuits, therefore making some dealings very $$$ difficult.

I guess my question should have been more like, how many telcos are in CR? Are companies able to form ISP, CLECs and such, but thought it to be to much

[GringoTico]

Nasser,

As already stated, there’s only one source for telecommunications and internet access in CR – the government. Until this changes (and it may soon if Arias has his way and CAFTA goes through – but will it in the US now with a Democratic congress???), I wouldn’t put much thought into it.

I still don’t quite understand how Arias intends to pull it off. I was under the impression that there would have to be a constitutional amendment to open up the government monopolies in telecommunications, energy and insurance. Like in the US, I think that takes a two thirds majority. Fat chance of that happening. ICE, RECOPE and INS still have a lot of fans.

[twor99]

You tried to simplify it to ease the conversation, and I had to go and complicate it. What a way to make my first post on this site:)

First off, for those who are complaining about the lack of choice here: I.C.E., as a government run monopoly, has done wonders for this country. There are certain things a socialist structure can do that a competitve market just simply won’t provide. Namely, getting power and phone lines to the most remote locations where the cost far outweighs the profit. Costa Rica competes with more developed countries in this aspect, decades ahead of most developing nations. I.C.E. deserves the credit for this.

That being said, I don’t believe the socialist economic structure scales well, and it is time for CR to make the changes necessary to compete. But that’s my capitalist opinion 😉

I’ve been dealing with ISPs here directly, and have thuoght about setting one up myself. There are basically two categories of ISP here: the garage-variety, with none of the amenities you’d find in North America; and HostaRica.

HostaRica(a private company – not government owned) has a monopoly on COLO facilities, and of course get their bandwidth from the Government monopoly, and so have prices that far exceed their counterparts in U.S. and Canada. I toured their brand-new facilities – they have a suite in a building owned by a company that believes the monopolies are going away. The most ideal space I’ve ever seen for a COLO – solid skinned roofing, no internal liquids whatsover, two power grid sources, etc. They’ve also provided suites for RACSA and a few others for RACSA competitors, once the ban is lifted. AT&T is rumored to already have one of the suites and already moving their equipment in. Getting a suite in this building could make building out an ISP a simple endeavor with plenty of flexibility for growth.

As far as the monopolies not disappearing, there are some other factors involved in this than simple constituents opinions that will sway the politicians. CR is trying to get known as the place to get Internet from the rest of the world to South and Central America, competing directly with Panama in this goal. This is BIG money, and great for CR’s stand in the global market. I.C.E. has built San Jose into one of the most advanced metroplexes when it comes to Internet infrastructure, with multiple concentric fiber loops providing fast, redundant bandwidth(although the service attitude itself is still rather “pura vida” to truly compete with U.S. companies) There are at least two submerged fiber cables direct from San Jose to Miami and Southern California alive today, and I think two more being installed. With much of that paid for by Sprint and AT&T. That gives them some say, in my opinion.

Now, if you’re looking for a partner in CR to assist in opening an ISP, look no further.

BTW, I still haven’t read the article. Still learning my way around the site, but I’ll do that now.

[wmaes47]

twor99

You have supplied much information and I would like for you to see the following article, printed in AMCostaRica.com. Global Crossing will have a better presence and is preparing to connect the Western seaboard of Costa Rica to the World.

http://www.amcostarica.com/050506.htm

Your comments after reading the article, please.

Happy Hosting
Bill Maes

[Andrew]

Youb can see the full press release from Global Crossing at

I am personally very confident that Costa Rica will eventually make the right choices in allowing better and faster internet access.

In the meantime, as I have mentioned previously, I have been delighted with the telecommunications services and very cheap rates provided by ICE/RACSA although I must confess the internet has been very slow this week.

Scott Oliver – Founder
WeLoveCostaRica.com

[twor99]

Scott,

Today’s cover story on AMCostaRica.com might explain the slowness as of late, although today seems much better.

[Author]

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