Operator Claro Costa Rica has started providing 5G services on what is described as a trial basis. Speeds of up to 1.7Gbps and the lower latency that 5G promises are part of the package.
According to the operator's website, 5G is available in Bijagua de Upala, Limón baseball stadium, Mall Internacional, Instituto Tecnológico, City Mall and San José municipality, among others.
Claro is now the third operator to launch 5G in Costa Rica. The first was state-owned operator ICE, which began testing 5G early last year. Indeed, we reported last year that Huawei was to offer equipment and solutions to help Grupo ICE deploy private 5G networks for companies in Costa Rica.
In January we reported that Liberty Latin America (LLA) had switched on its 5G network in Costa Rica for localised tests as part of plans for commercial launch this year.
So far there appear to be no spectrum awards to support these plans in the market. However, the BNamericas news service says that a 5G spectrum tender is now expected to go ahead, though without giving dates.
Delays had occurred, it explains, because of frequency return processes and questions marks over the board of regulator Sutel. The Sutel issue was resolved last week with the appointment of two directors.
Claro Costa Rica's parent company, América Móvil, has launched 5G in Austria, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, Colombia and Guatemala.
