The Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) yesterday announced it has begun installing a fiber-optic network “from sea to sea” to provide high-speed Internet technology, according to a statement posted on the institute’s Web site.

The project, called “ Frontera a Frontera ” (“Border to Border”), consists of a fiber-optic network that transmits information through dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) and allows for rapid transmission of video, voice and data files.

“This network being built is of great importance to the country because it will increase optic connection through the main points of the national telecommunications network,” said ICE project director Gabriel Víquez, adding that the project aims to meet the growing technology needs of Costa Rica’s business sector.

ICE expects the project to be complete during the first three months of next year; so far, workers have laid 40% of the fiber-optic network, which will expand from the northern border town of Peñas Blancas to Paso Canoas, in the Southern Zone, and from the Caribbean port of Limón to the central Pacific city of Quepos.

It includes five main “rings” in the north, north-central, San José, south- central and southern regions of the country through which users can access this technology.

The Israeli company ECI Telecom is carrying out the project, and the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) is financing $32.5 million. ICE is providing the remaining $26.7 million for a total investment of $59 million.

-Tico Times

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