Costa Rica has a relatively modern telecommunications infrastructure.
However, Costa Rica is also Latin America’s least liberalised telecom market in which the state-owned Grupo ICE or Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad and its subsidiary RACSA own all telecommunications except pay-tv. This means fixed-line telephone, mobile telephone and internet are all state owned. ICE does not sell fixed telephone lines or post pay mobile phones to non-residents. If you are a resident long waiting times may occur.
In order to get a fixed line installed you need to provide the following:
Complete name of applicant
Passport or cédula number
Complete address of where the telephone line has to be installed
The number of the nearest telephone. This has to be of no more than 75 metres of distance. This information is necessary to find out what networks and numbers are available and to guarantee the possibility to install service.
Contact telephone number
Electric meter number where the telephone will be installed
If the name in the telephone book is not the same name as the person applying for the telephone line, an authorisation of the person whose name will is published in the telephone book has to be presented. This authorisation has to be authenticated by an attorney. If the applicant is a minor of age, a birth certificate and an authorisation of the parents or caretakers have to be presented.
The costs of installing a telephone line at a private residence in January 2006 are estimated at 27,645 Colones or US$ 55 including taxes and security deposit. For a business the total installation costs are estimated at 37,945 Colones or US$ 75 including taxes and security deposit.
If you want to change an existing telephone number in Costa Rica you can call telegestión at 115. Changing a number costs 1375 Colones. If your number has to be changed due to technical problems you will not be charged.
Changing the name in the telephone book costs 350 Colones. If the name in telephone book is a different name than the person that is registered as the owner of the telephone service, an authorisation by that owner authenticated by an attorney has to be presented.
If you want to be able to make international phone calls and/or call 900-numbers you are charged a one-time application fee of 350 Colones and a 95 Colones/month connection fee.
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