Costa Rica’s telecommunications regulator Sutel has announced the activation of the first 23 sites in its ‘Connected Public Spaces’ initiative to bring Wi-Fi connectivity to digital divide areas throughout the country.
The sites offer free Wi-Fi at speeds of up to 6Mbps and will be funded by resources from the National Telecommunications Fund (Fonatel). A total of 515 sites including parks, libraries, train stations, civic centres and public universities in 82 cantons will have hotspots installed, said Sutel.
Local operators Telecable, Coopeguanacaste and a consortium made up of ICE, Racsa and PC Central have already been awarded contracts worth a total of around EUR 150 million.