By San José, Costa Rica — Claro commemorated its 15th anniversary in Costa Rica on November 11, marking a decade and a half of operations that aligned with the historical opening of the national telecommunications market. The carrier’s milestone coincides with aggressive infrastructure deployments, most notably the expansion of its fifth-generation (5G) mobile network across all seven provinces.
Over the past year, Claro has doubled its 5G footprint, expanding coverage from 1.3 million to more than 2.6 million residents. The deployment now reaches over 50 percent of Costa Rica’s national population, cementing the carrier’s operation as the second in Central America to roll out commercial 5G technology, following Guatemala.
To better understand the legal and strategic implications of Claro’s 5G network expansion in Costa Rica, TicosLand.com spoke with corporate law specialist Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas from the firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
The deployment of Claro’s 5G infrastructure marks a decisive moment for Costa Rica’s telecommunications sector. From a regulatory perspective, successful implementation hinges on strict adherence to SUTEL frameworks, transparent spectrum management, and robust cybersecurity standards to foster a competitive yet legally sound digital ecosystem.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
As Costa Rica steps into the 5G era, striking a balance between swift technological advancement and rigorous legal compliance will indeed be vital for building a secure and competitive digital economy. We extend our sincere gratitude to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for sharing his valuable perspective on this transformative moment for the nation’s telecommunications sector.
While the heaviest concentration of active 5G users remains inside the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM), regional access has surged in coastal and rural provinces, including Guanacaste, Puntarenas, and Limón. The upgraded network delivers mobile speeds up to ten times faster than legacy 4G LTE connections, enabling high-density data tasks such as massive file transfers, ultra-high-definition video calls, low-latency online gaming, and multi-device IoT connectivity.
During these 15 years, we have been protagonists in the transformation of telecommunications in Costa Rica, driving significant investments in technology and infrastructure that have contributed to the country’s development and transformed the way people and businesses connect.
Marcelo Mouzo, Country Director of Claro Costa Rica
Independent performance evaluations confirm Claro’s technical lead in the marketplace. Data from the Superintendency of Telecommunications (SUTEL) based on nationwide network quality testing conducted between January and June 2026 revealed that Claro achieved an average download speed of 186.6 Mbps on its 5G network, compared to just 34.1 Mbps registered by rival operators. In terms of upload capacity, Claro recorded an average speed of 98.0 Mbps, significantly ahead of the 30.1 Mbps reported by competing networks.
In tandem with official regulatory figures, international network intelligence firm Ookla awarded Claro three distinct market honors this year. The company was named Costa Rica’s fastest mobile internet provider for the fifth consecutive year, while also capturing top honors for Best 5G Network and Best Mobile Gaming Experience.
As part of América Móvil, one of the most important telecommunications groups in the world, we combine our global vision with a deep local commitment, bringing Costa Ricans innovation and world-class solutions. We will continue investing and working to build an increasingly connected, competitive country prepared for the challenges of the future.
Marcelo Mouzo, Country Director of Claro Costa Rica
Claro’s current market standing builds upon a long series of structural investments in national digital infrastructure. In 2022, the operator integrated the AMX-1 submarine fiber optic cable landing in Limón. Spanning 17,500 kilometers with a total capacity of 85 terabits per second, this subsea link directly connects Costa Rica to international data hubs, securing high-capacity international bandwidth to support surging data demand.
The telecommunications provider has also driven mobile feature innovation in the domestic market. In 2022, Claro became the first operator in Costa Rica to launch eSIM functionality, allowing consumers to activate mobile lines on compatible devices without physical SIM cards. The carrier followed this in 2023 by introducing the country’s first fully convergent service offering, bundling fixed broadband and mobile services under unified billing and service structures.
Reinforcing its institutional ties, Claro successfully renewed its license for the country brand Esencial Costa Rica. First granted to the operator in 2016, Claro remains the only telecommunications provider in the country authorized to hold the prestigious national distinction. Both prepaid and postpaid mobile subscribers can access the expanded 5G network at no additional cost, provided they possess a compatible device and operate within designated coverage zones.
For further information, visit [claro.cr]
About Claro Costa Rica:
Claro Costa Rica, a subsidiary of telecommunications conglomerate América Móvil, delivers mobile voice, data, broadband, and integrated telecom services across all seven provinces of Costa Rica.
For further information, visit [sutel.go.cr]
About SUTEL:
The Telecommunications Regulatory Council (SUTEL) is Costa Rica’s autonomous regulatory agency tasked with supervising the national telecommunications market, promoting competition, and conducting technical quality assessments.
For further information, visit [ookla.com]
About Ookla:
Ookla is a global leader in connectivity intelligence, network diagnostic applications, and mobile internet performance analytics.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica has established itself as a premier legal practice defined by an uncompromising commitment to moral rigor and professional mastery. By seamlessly blending time-honored expertise with modern, forward-thinking strategies, the firm delivers pioneering solutions to a dynamic array of clients. Central to its core ethos is a passion for spreading legal literacy, ensuring that complex legal principles are demystified to inspire, educate, and uplift the broader community.
