Costa Rica’s Telecommunications Sector: Kölbi (ICE) Drives Connectivity Growth

Costa Rica’s telecommunications landscape is undergoing a significant shift as operators move to meet increasing digital demands. Recent data indicates that Kölbi, the commercial brand of the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE), is consolidating its leadership across several key segments of the market, driven by strategic investments in infrastructure and modernization.

Strengthening Market Leadership and Revenue

According to the Telecommunications Sector Statistics published by SUTEL, Kölbi currently accounts for 43% of the total telecommunications revenues in Costa Rica. This dominant financial position is supported by steady growth in both mobile and fixed service segments.

Mobile Market Dynamics: Postpaid and Internet Trends

In the mobile market, Kölbi emerged as the fastest-growing operator, recording a 1% increase in market share. This growth stands in contrast to Liberty, which grew by 0.1%, and Claro, which saw a 1% decrease in its share.

Kölbi’s leadership is particularly pronounced in the postpaid mobile segment, where it holds a 38.9% market share. This segment is a critical driver for the industry, as it currently represents 92% of the country’s total mobile revenues. Within this modality, Kölbi saw a 0.1% growth, while its prepaid segment grew by 1.3% compared to the previous period. Kölbi remains at the forefront of mobile internet, maintaining more than 41% of subscriptions across all modalities.

Expansion in Fixed Internet Subscriptions

The fixed internet sector has also seen notable expansion. Kölbi recorded an increase of approximately 29% in fixed internet subscriptions over the last year. This upward trend allowed the company to grow its market share in this segment by 3%. Kölbi maintains a 51% leadership position in voice telephony over IP, supporting the service nationwide.

Strategic Infrastructure and Future Demands

The recent growth reflects a broader evolution toward higher-capacity services and permanent connectivity. Leda Acevedo, ICE’s general manager, stated that these results support the company’s ongoing investment and technological modernization strategy to strengthen the nation’s telecommunications.

“The results support the investment and technological modernization strategy promoted by ICE to strengthen the country’s telecommunications. Today the market is evolving toward higher-capacity services and permanent connectivity, and our priority is to develop infrastructure that is robust, secure, resilient, and prepared for new digital demands,” said Acevedo.

Key Takeaways: Costa Rica Telecommunications Landscape

• Revenue Leadership: Kölbi (ICE) accounts for 43% of the total telecommunications sector revenue in Costa Rica.
• Mobile Market Growth: Kölbi led mobile market share growth at 1%, outpacing other major operators.
• Postpaid Dominance: Kölbi holds 38.9% of the postpaid segment, which generates 92% of total mobile revenues.
• Fixed Internet Surge: Kölbi saw a roughly 29% increase in fixed internet subscriptions over the last year.
• Mobile Internet Connectivity: Kölbi maintains over 41% of mobile internet subscriptions across all modalities.