In total, Nokia has installed 5G at 30 sites in major cities so far, with an additional 170 expected later this year.
Nokia has paired with Costa Rican telco Racsa (Radiográfica Costarricense SA), which is part of the Grupo ICE company, to deploy the country’s first 5G mobile network.
The network is based on 5G Standalone (5G SA), which means it’s not reliant on older mobile generations such as 4G and solely uses a 5G core network.
Racsa has deployed 5G to San Jose, Cartago, and Limon, plus some rural parts of the country.
In total, Nokia has installed 5G at 30 sites in major cities so far, with an additional 170 expected later this year. Eventually, this will increase to 500 sites.
Nokia noted that its network also provides Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) services to a wide range of businesses, including small and medium enterprises, public sector organisations, and consumers.
According to the vendor, FWA can be used to provide high-speed connectivity to regions without existing telecom infrastructure.
Racsa has used Nokia‘s AirScale radio portfolio, which includes Massive MIMO radios, remote radio heads, and base stations.
“By deploying the first 5G network in the country, we are not only improving connectivity for businesses and government entities but also enhancing the quality of life for our citizens,” said Mauricio Barrantes, General Manager of Racsa.
Barrantes likened the launch of its 5G network as a “pivotal step in the country’s digital transformation.”
“The high-speed, reliable network will support innovative applications that contribute to the country’s overall economic and social development,” he added.
The telco revealed in February of last year that it had successfully achieved gigabit speeds during a 5G trial.
In November 2022, Grupo received a $300 million line of credit from EXIM Bank, the official export credit agency of the US federal government, for the development of 5G services.
Rival telcos Liberty Latin America (LLA) and Claro have also held 5G trials in the country, but are yet to launch their 5G networks.
