Internet Service

Costa Rica is slowly becoming part of the modern world. There are plenty of internet cafes in many locations throughout Costa Rica. Internet service is also available for private homes and businesses through either ICE (Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad), RACSA (Radiografica Costarricense), Cable Tica or AMNET. 

The same varieties of services (high speed, broadband, etc) that are offered in the U.S. are not widely available everywhere because the infrastructure required for high speed access is not available in all areas. The closer you live to a city, the more likely you are to be able to have a higher (than dial-up) speed connection.

Wireless internet for the most part is mainly available in American establishments like TGI Fridays or hotels, though more and more places are modernizing. Current WiFi hotspots include the International airport, TerraMall in Escazu, Multiplaza in Escazu and Real Cariari Mall near Alajuela and Heredia.

It is not yet common for everyone to have internet access from home, much less a wireless network you can “borrow” from time to time.
      

ICE Services:

ICE offers ADSL and ISDN internet connection services.  There is unlimited internet access with ADSL and installation can occur anywhere between 1 week and 1 month after subscribing, assuming ADSL lines are available in your area. In some Central Valley towns such as Atenas, ADSL lines are saturated (as of April 2007) and a waiting list has begun.

ISDN, more commonly known in Costa Rica as RDSI, is exactly double the speed of a dial-up connection, as it uses technology to create a 128 kps connection with one phone line. With ISDN, customers can use the telephone while online, however doing so drops the speed back to 64 kps. ICE now offers a flat fee package for unlimited internet use with ISDN service.

Installation of ISDN through ICE for residential customers with a single functioning phone line entails a one time fee of 17,430 colones ($33), with a flat monthly fee of 5,687 colones ($11) thereafter. This price includes unlimited internet access plus 320 minutes of local calls; calls beyond that are charged separately. ISDN only requires one phone line and is widely available throughout much of the country.

(1) This cost applies to commercial locales and homes without an internal connection box or an existing telephone line.
(2) This cost applies to homes or commercial areas with an existing internal connection box and an existing telephone line that has been cut-off for one month or more.
(3) The basic fees includes 320 minutes of local telephone calls plus unlimited internet access. Phone calls beyond this amount are charged separately.

Note: The above mentioned fees include all sales tax.

ICE ADSL Fees: 

Sales tax is not included in the prices above and it includes rental of a  modem and splitter from ICE.
   
Back to Top
 

RACSA Services:

RACSA, a subsidiary of ICE, offers a different choice of internet access services including dial up, ISDN and cable modem access. 

Dial-up: 

RACSA's Internet Plan

 •      Personal Internet: $9.90 fee with 12 hours of use, the additional hour will cost $0.90. and  user can only  use the registered phone line, there will not be the option of using a different phone line.

•    Cyberpack 15 has the next characteristics: $15 fee with 15 hours of use, the additional hour will cost $0.90.

•    Cyberpack 20 has the following characteristics: $20 fee with 20 hours use, the additional hour will cost $0.90.

•    Cyberpack 25 has the next characteristics: $25 fee with 25 hours use, the additional hour will cost $.90.

•    Flat rate has the following characteristics: $35 fee with 90 hours use, the additional hour will cost $0.90.  The users of this service will be able to establish connections to Internet via telephone from other countries using the same access codes through the Roaming Internet service, which will have an additional cost according to the rates of the host country.

•    EACH of the above rates does not include the cost of the phone call. (see Home Phone Service)

Back to Top

There are also two other VERY convenient dial-up options through RACSA that permit you have immediate internet access without a contract:

900 Service
RACSA offers a 900 online service. The cost is 11 colones per minute and includes the cost of the phone call.

•    It does not require signing a contract with RACSA.

•    The customer pays only for the used time, because it doesn't have a minimum fee.

•    The payment is part of the monthly phone bill.

•    Access to the Customer Service Department of RACSA.

Connect your computer to your phone line and dial 900-365-4632.   RACSA has a helpline (in English or Spanish) to help you get set up. 

 
Pre-paid Internet Card:  The other option is to purchase a pre-paid internet card. These cards are available at RACSA’s main building, the main office of Banco Nacional de Costa Rica in San José, Perimercados, IFSA-KODAK stores, Multiservicios Facsímil (Ciudad Colón), the offices of Compañía Nacional de Fuerza y Luz all across the country, and at Fischel and Catedral drugstores.

Pre-paid cards are available in the following blocks of time:
 

 
NOTE: Land line phone usage fees still apply on a per-minute basis.

Back to Top

Cable Internet:
RACSA offers internet through cable modem too. RACSA’s cable internet works through a high speed connection between RACSA's Internet and the Cable TV Service providers - AMNET and Cable Tica. The customers of these businesses may access RACSA's Internet through a coaxial cable provided by the Cable TV Service companies.  You must have service with either AMNET or Cable Tica to obtain RACSA’s cable internet service. 

RACSA’s Fees for Cable Modem (through Cable Tica & AMNET)

 These fees are in addition to the basic cable TV contract. (see Cable TV)


Cable Tica: Cable Tica offers cable internet service through RACSA. See RACSA’s chart above for fee schedule. There is a $20 installation fee and you can either buy or rent the cable modem ($50 to purchase or $4/ month to rent).  

AMNET Services: AMNET is another cable company offering cable internet service. Their fees are exactly the same as Cable Tica, see the above chart for details.

Back to Top