Thursday, June 05, 2008

Costa Rica - liberalisation

Costa Rica ends telecommunications monopoly

Costa Rica has broken up its state-run telecommunications monopoly.

The law signed Wednesday by President Oscar Arias meets one of the requirements demanded by Washington for the implementation of the Central American Free Trade Agreement.

The state Electricity Institute has run Costa Rica's telecommunications industry since it was formed in 1949. Officials say private companies can now offer cellular phone and Internet services at competitive prices.

Arias also is urging lawmakers to approve other U.S. requirements, including opening up the state-run insurance sector. The deadline for meeting the requirements is Oct. 1.

The rest of Central America and the Dominican Republic joined CAFTA in 2006.

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