RACSA and Nokia have made a significant stride in the telecom landscape by launching Costa Rica’s first 5G standalone network. This new network targets crucial urban centers, representing a landmark shift towards modern connectivity in the country. RACSA, part of Costa Rica’s state-owned telecom group, has already established 30 sites in cities like San Jose, Cartago, and Limon. The plan is to expand to 500 sites, spanning urban and rural districts.
Mauricio Barrantes, General Manager of RACSA, emphasized the role Nokia’s technology played in this venture, “The utilization of Nokia technology represents a pivotal step in Costa Rica’s digital transformation which RACSA has been playing a key role in for the last 103 years. By deploying the first 5G network in the country, we are not only improving connectivity for businesses and government entities but also enhancing the quality of life for our citizens.”
Costa Rica’s 5G journey hasn’t been smooth. The country faced delays because of disagreements between telcos and regulatory body Sutel. Operators had concerns about spectrum pricing and infrastructure-sharing mandates. Although the latest spectrum auction started in August, it was soon canceled due to renewed operator complaints.
Despite these challenges, RACSA stands out among Costa Rican telecoms. It holds 100MHz of 3.5GHz spectrum, exceptional for 5G services, enabling them to offer fixed wireless access services since April. This existing spectrum likely supports their new 5G standalone network with Nokia.
This development shows the potential for private-public partnerships in advancing Costa Rica’s telecom infrastructure. The success of this project could also catalyze 5G adoption in other parts of Latin America. However, the broader success of 5G in Costa Rica will likely depend on regulatory harmony and transparent spectrum allocation processes.
