President Oscar Arias signed the law over a year ago to deregulate the communications industry.  Since then, SUTEL (Superintendent of Telecommunications) has approved 7 companies to begin providing competing internet service throughout Costa Rica.

The companies to achieve licensing are CRWIFI S.A., Dodona SRL, Intertel Worldwide S.A., Worldcom de Costa Rica S.A., Call My Way NY S.A., Redes Inalambricas de Costa Rica S.A., and JASEC.

The companies will now be allowed to operate in competition with long-standing state monopolies Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) and Radiographica Costarricense S.A. (RACSA).  This competition should bring a rush of new technology and more expansive coverage throughout Costa Rica.

The telecommunications and cell service providers have also been deregulated and are expecting to begin offering competing services immediately.