Costa Rica - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband- Statistics and Analyses

Last updated: 25 Aug 2020 Update History

Report Pages: 150

Analyst: Henry Lancaster

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Summary
Table Of Contents

Costa Rica’s Fonatel project continues to make progress

Costa Rica’s liberalised telecom sector saw substantial growth for a number of years, though the level of growth has fallen sharply since 2016, and fell to only 0.3% in 2018, year-on-year. Although the state-owned operator ICE remains the dominant provider of fixed-line services, the regional operators Claro and Movistar are significant players in the important mobile services market. In May 2020 Millicom International, trading as Tigo, cancelled its bid to acquire Movistar, though the acquisitions of Telefónica’s units in Panama and Nicaragua had been completed during 2019.

The number of fixed-lines fell for a number of years though more recently the decline has been offset by growing consumer use of VoIP services. This was stimulated by the 2014 hike in tariffs for fixed-line calls.

Costa Rica’s broadband market is the most developed in Central America, with the highest broadband penetration for this sub-region. Geographical distribution however is unequal, with a much higher digital gap than in the case of telephone services. Compared with the whole of Latin America, Costa Rica’s broadband penetration lags behind Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, and some Caribbean islands.

The Costa Rican telecom sector has showed greater resilience than most others in the region, and with the implementation of number portability there is greater scope for increased competition in coming years. This has been reflected in the sharp decline in the cost of broadband data in recent years.

In addition, the report covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions.

BuddeComm notes that the outbreak of the Coronavirus in 2020 is having a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. During the coming year the telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure. Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries.

On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth.

Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the industry forecasts contained in this report.

The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions.

Key developments

Government, telecom regulator and telcos agree on strategy to address COVID-19 crisis;
Telcos secure additional bandwidth capacity to manage increase in data traffic;
Regulator prepares for 700MHz auction;
Kolbi completes migration of copper to fibre project in 66 districts;
Millicom International cancels acquisition bid for Telefónica Costa Rica;
ICE secures access to Telia Carrier's Central America backbone network;
Movistar and Claro secure licenses at auction;
ICE investing more in multi-technology NGN project;
Report includes the regulator's market data reports for 2018; telcos' financial and operating data updates, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of COVID-19 on the telecoms sector, recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report

Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE), RASCA, Tigo, Cabletica, Claro, Movistar

Key Statistics
Regional Market Comparison

Telecom Maturity Index by tier

Market Leaders
Market Challengers
Market Emergents
South America Telecom Maturity Index
Central America Telecom Maturity Index

TMI versus GDP
Mobile and mobile broadband penetration

Country overview
COVID-19 and its impact on the telecom sector

Economic considerations and responses
Mobile devices
Subscribers
Infrastructure

Telecommunications market

Market analysis

Regulatory environment

Historical overview
Regulatory authority

Sutel

Fixed-line developments

General Telecommunications Law
Sector liberalisation
Universalisation Fund (Fonatel)
Interconnect
Access
Number Portability (NP)
Tariffs
DR-CAFTA

Mobile network developments

Spectrum auctions
Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
Roaming

Mobile market

Mobile statistics

Mobile data

SMS/MMS

Mobile broadband
Mobile infrastructure

Overview
4G (LTE)
3G
2G

Major mobile operators

ICE (Kölbi, ICE Cellular)
Claro (América Móvil)
Movistar (Telefónica Costa Rica)
Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)

Fixed-line broadband market

Introduction and statistical overview

Market analysis
Broadband statistics

Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) networks

RACSA

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks
Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks
Other fixed-line broadband services

Fixed wireless (WiMAX, WiBro, Wi-Fi)
Internet via satellite

Fixed network operators

ICE
Claro

Telecommunications infrastructure

National telecom network
Internet Exchange Points (IXPs)
International infrastructure

Terrestrial networks
Submarine cable networks
Satellite networks
Smart infrastructure

Wholesale

Appendix – Historic data
Glossary of abbreviations
Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1 – Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities – Costa Rica – 2020 (e)
Table 2 – Evolution of GDP in Costa Rica – 2010 – 2020
Table 3 – Number of authorised telecom service operators – 2011 – 2018
Table 4 – Growth in telecom sector revenue and annual change– 2011 – 2018
Table 5 – Change in telecom revenue by sector – 2014 – 2018
Table 6 – Change in revenue market share by sector – 2014 – 2018
Table 7 – Fonatel investment in telecoms – 2012 – 2018
Table 8 – Fonatel covered premises, people – 2015 – 2018
Table 9 – Mobile, broadband subscriptions enabled via Fonatel – 2014 – 2018
Table 10 – Growth in the number of mobile number portings - 2013 – 2018
Table 11 – Development of roaming revenue (SMS/MMS and voice) - 2013 – 2018
Table 12 – Average traffic per mobile subscriber - 2012 – 2018
Table 13 – Change in the number of mobile subscribers by main operator - 2012 – 2018
Table 14 – Change in the mobile market share by operator - 2011 – 2018
Table 15 – Mobile market traffic - 2011 – 2018
Table 16 – Development of mobile revenue by service - 2014 - 2018
Table 17 – Development of mobile revenue by service - 2014 - 2018
Table 18 –Proportion of mobile telephony service revenue by type - 2011 – 2018
Table 19 – Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration - 2010 – 2025
Table 20 – Change in the number of prepaid and contract subscribers - 2010 – 2018
Table 21 – Change in the proportion of prepaid and postpaid subscribers - 2010 – 2018
Table 22 – Change in the proportion of prepaid and postpaid subscribers - 2010 – 2018
Table 23 – Development of prepaid and contract mobile ARPU - 2014 – 2018
Table 24 – Development of prepaid and contract mobile ARPU - 2014 – 2018
Table 25 – SMS and MMS traffic - 2011 – 2018
Table 26 – Average SMS traffic sent per user per month - 2014 – 2018
Table 27 – Decline in SMS/MMS revenue - 2011 - 2018
Table 28 – Growth in the number of mobile internet subscribers and penetration - 2010 – 2025
Table 29 – Growth in the number of mobile internet subscribers and penetration - 2010 – 2025
Table 30 – Growth in mobile internet revenue - 2013 – 2018
Table 31 – Growth in mobile internet traffic - 2013 – 2018
Table 32 – ICE mobile subscribers - 2012 – 2018
Table 33 – Claro mobile subscribers - 2012 – 2018
Table 34 – Movistar mobile subscribers - 2012 – 2018
Table 35 – Change in the number of MVNO mobile subscribers by provider - 2011 – 2018
Table 36 – Change in the number of MVNO mobile subscribers by provider - 2011 – 2018
Table 37 – Fixed-line broadband revenue and ARPU – 2011 – 2018
Table 38 – Change in the proportion of fixed internet connections by data rate - 2015 – 2018
Table 39 – Change in the proportion of fixed internet connections by data rate - 2015 – 2018
Table 40 – Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration – 2010 – 2025
Table 41 – Change in the proportion of fixed broadband subscribers by technology – 2015 – 2018
Table 42 – Fixed-line internet traffic and annual change– 2013 – 2018
Table 43 – Growth in the number of cable modem subscribers and penetration – 2010 – 2018
Table 44 – DSL subscribers and household penetration – 2010 – 2018
Table 45 – Fibre broadband subscribers – 2010 – 2018
Table 46 – WiMAX subscribers – 2009 – 2018
Table 47 – Development of ICE’s financial data – 2010 – 2018
Table 48 – Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2010 – 2025
Table 49 – Decline in the number of ICE’s PSTN lines and penetration – 2010 – 2018
Table 50 – Growth in the number of VoIP connections and penetration – 2010 – 2018
Table 51 – Change in VoIP market share of subscribers by operator – 2013 – 2018
Table 52 – Change in the proportion of traditional fixed and VoIP lines – 2012 – 2018
Table 53 – Change in PSTN and VoIP revenue – 2012 – 2018
Table 54 – Development of PSTN telephony and VoIP ARPU – 2012 – 2018
Table 55 – Average PSTN telephony and VoIP revenue per minute – 2014 – 2018
Table 56 – Change in fixed-line telephony and VoIP traffic – 2010 – 2018
Table 57 – Change in the average telephony traffic per subscriber (fixed-line and VoIP) – 2010 – 2018
Table 58 – Growth in international internet bandwidth – 2007 – 2018
Table 59 – Wholesale fixed-line broadband lines and revenue – 2015 – 2018
Table 60 – Historic - Evolution of GDP in Costa Rica – 2000 – 2009
Table 61 – Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration - 1998 – 2009
Table 62 – Historic - Internet users and user penetration – 1997 – 2015
Table 63 – Historic - Fixed broadband subscribers and penetration – 2000 – 2009
Table 64 – Historic - Broadband market share by technology – 2000 – 2008
Table 65 – Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity – 1997 – 2009
Table 66 – Historic - Cable modem subscribers and household penetration – 2000 – 2009
Table 67 – Historic - DSL subscribers and household penetration – 2002 – 2009

List of Charts

Chart 1 – Latin America –Overall Telecoms Maturity Index
Chart 2 – Latin America Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Leaders
Chart 3 – Latin America Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Challengers
Chart 4 – Latin America Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Emergents
Chart 5 – South America –Telecoms Maturity Index by country
Chart 6 – Central America –Telecoms Maturity Index by country
Chart 7 – Latin America Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita
Chart 8 – South America mobile subscriber penetration versus mobile broadband penetration
Chart 9 – Latin America fixed broadband penetration versus mobile broadband penetration
Chart 10 – Growth in telecom sector revenue and annual change– 2011 – 2018
Chart 11 – Change in telecom revenue by sector – 2014 – 2018
Chart 12 – Change in revenue market share by sector – 2014 – 2018
Chart 13 – Fonatel covered premises, people – 2015 – 2018
Chart 14 – Mobile, broadband subscriptions enabled via Fonatel – 2014 – 2018
Chart 15 – Growth in the number of mobile number portings - 2013 – 2018
Chart 16 – Development of roaming revenue (SMS/MMS and voice) - 2013 – 2018
Chart 17 – Average traffic per mobile subscriber - 2012 – 2018
Chart 18 – Change in the number of mobile subscribers by main operator - 2012 – 2018
Chart 19 – Change in the mobile market share by operator - 2011 – 2018
Chart 20 – Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration - 2010 – 2025
Chart 21 – Change in the number of prepaid and contract subscribers - 2010 – 2018
Chart 22 – Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration – 2010 – 2025
Chart 23 – Change in the proportion of fixed broadband subscribers by technology – 2015 – 2018
Chart 24 – Growth in the number of cable modem subscribers and penetration – 2010 – 2018
Chart 25 – DSL subscribers and household penetration – 2010 – 2018
Chart 26 – Development of ICE’s financial data – 2010 – 2018
Chart 27 – Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2010 – 2025
Chart 28 – Decline in the number of ICE’s PSTN lines and penetration – 2010 – 2018
Chart 29 – Change in the proportion of traditional fixed and VoIP lines – 2012 – 2018
Chart 30 – Change in PSTN and VoIP revenue – 2012 – 2018
Chart 31 – Development of PSTN telephony and VoIP ARPU – 2012 – 2018
Chart 32 – Change in fixed-line telephony and VoIP traffic – 2010 – 2018
Chart 33 – Change in the average telephony traffic per subscriber (fixed-line and VoIP) – 2010 – 2018
Chart 34 – Growth in international internet bandwidth – 2007 – 2018

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1 – Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 2 – South America - Key Characteristics of Telecoms Markets by Country
Exhibit 3 – Central America - Key Characteristics of Telecoms Markets by Country
Exhibit 4 – Major submarine cable networks connecting Costa Rica

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Costa Rica - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband- Statistics and Analyses

Purchase this Report

USD 750.00

Costa Rica’s Fonatel project continues to make progress

Key developments

Companies mentioned in this report

Key Statistics

Regional Market Comparison

Country overview

COVID-19 and its impact on the telecom sector

Telecommunications market

Regulatory environment

Mobile market

Fixed-line broadband market

Fixed network operators

Telecommunications infrastructure

Appendix – Historic data

Glossary of abbreviations

Related reports

Purchase this Report

USD 750.00

Share this Report

Purchase with Confidence

Research Methodology

Sample Reports

Research

Hot Topics

News & Views