by Rid Hughes

After a slow sales start, the government telecommunications monopoly, ICE, has sold all the 300,000 new GSM cell phone lines they bought from Ericsson, a Swedish firm. But only 37% have activted their new purchases.

Only 113,273 lines were activated, leaving nearly 187,000 that had been reserved in danger of being put on the market again. ICE is giving the latter a one-month grace period to activate before re-selling the line. Also sold out are 40,000 GSM lines that ICE had disconnected for late payments.

So, the country is back temporarily to a “no cell lines available” status until 200,000 more connections go on the market in the latter half of this year. These can be reserved by calling ICE at its 193 number to get on the waiting list.

ICE spokesman Elberth Duran expressed puzzlement at why one would go to the hassle and expense of reserving a cell phone line, then not use it. But this follows the national cultural pattern to never put off to tomorrow what your can put off until the day after tomorrow. This is the explanation of why nearly all Costa Rican holiday shopping is last minute and partially explains the legendary tardiness of nearly everyone.

Que pereza!