Costa Rica to provide internet to indigenous communities

Costa Rica's telecommunications regulator (Sutel) has awarded two rural contracts worth US$47.9mn to state telco ICE to provide broadband coverage to indigenous communities, allowing 14 underserved territories to receive telecommunications services for the first time.

The six projects covering the Atlantic and eight projects covering the Southern coasts represent the largest ever investment in communications in the country to address this segment of the population.

The rollout must be completed within 14 months. A second wave of investments will cover the remaining nine indigenous communities. Included is free telecommunications access for schools, health centers and other public buildings.