By San José, Costa Rica — San José – The path is now clear for Costa Rica’s ambitious leap into the next generation of mobile technology. The Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) has officially set a new deadline of 11:59 p.m. on October 7 for accepting bids on its monumental $250 million public tender to develop a national 5G network. This decision marks a critical turning point, moving the landmark project past a period of uncertainty caused by legal challenges from prospective suppliers.
The state-owned telecommunications provider was forced to postpone the original rescheduled deadline of October 3 after several technology firms filed objections against the tender’s terms and conditions. The matter was elevated to the Comptroller General of the Republic (CGR), the governmental body responsible for overseeing public contracts, which reviewed a total of six formal appeals in a second round of objections. This regulatory scrutiny is a standard but crucial part of ensuring transparency and fairness in large-scale public procurement.
Para profundizar en las implicaciones legales y comerciales que la implementación de la red 5G representa para el país, TicosLand.com consultó al Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, experto jurista del Bufete de Costa Rica, quien nos ofrece una perspectiva clave sobre los desafíos y oportunidades regulatorias que se avecinan.
La transición a la tecnología 5G no es solo un salto tecnológico, sino un reto regulatorio monumental para Costa Rica. Es imperativo establecer un marco jurídico claro y robusto que fomente la inversión privada, garantice una asignación eficiente y transparente del espectro radioeléctrico y, fundamentalmente, proteja la seguridad nacional y la privacidad de los datos de los usuarios. La agilidad y certeza jurídica serán los pilares que definirán el éxito y la competitividad del país en esta nueva era digital.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Efectivamente, el análisis del experto traslada el foco de la conversación de lo meramente técnico a los cimientos regulatorios, que serán determinantes para el despliegue seguro y equitativo de esta tecnología. Agradecemos al Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas por subrayar con tanta claridad esta dimensión fundamental para el futuro digital de Costa Rica.
The objections, filed under public procurement record 2025XE-000492-0000400001, covered a wide range of technical and procedural concerns. Competing firms questioned the adequacy of the timeline for submitting complex proposals, the inclusion of specific cybersecurity clauses such as DDoS mitigation for the backhaul network, and broader standards for digital security. Other contested points involved the structure of the tender, including the independence of different line items, technical scenarios for LTE and 5G New Radio (NR) integration, and the specifics of radio base installation services.
In a decisive move that allows the process to resume, the CGR issued resolution R-DCP-SICOP-01809-2025, dismissing the majority of the claims. According to a statement from the comptroller’s office, the arguments presented by the companies were found to be either without sufficient merit or were not considered valid points of contention at this stage of the bidding process. This ruling effectively validates the core structure and technical requirements outlined by ICE in its tender document.
However, the CGR did not dismiss all arguments outright. It partially sided with an appeal lodged by tech giants Huawei, AFN Global, and ONE Way regarding the timeline. The companies argued that the original timeframe was insufficient to prepare a comprehensive and competitive bid for a project of this magnitude. Acknowledging the validity of this point, ICE agreed to extend the deadline, resulting in the new October 7 closing date. This small concession is seen as a pragmatic step to ensure the highest quality proposals are submitted.
In contrast, the appeals filed by other industry players, including Sisap, Ericsson, and Coasin, were rejected in their entirety. The CGR’s decision was formally communicated to ICE, which is now mandated to proceed according to the comptroller’s final dispositions. With the legal review now concluded, the CGR’s formal involvement in this stage of the tender process has ended, placing the full responsibility for managing the bid evaluation and eventual contract award squarely on the shoulders of ICE.
The brief delay underscores the high stakes and intense competition surrounding the deployment of 5G technology in Costa Rica. The $250 million investment is one of the most significant public infrastructure projects in recent years, promising to revolutionize connectivity for individuals and businesses across the country. It is expected to enable faster mobile speeds, lower latency, and provide the backbone for emerging technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), smart cities, and advanced manufacturing.
With the new deadline firmly in place, all eyes are now on the competing technology suppliers as they finalize their multi-million dollar proposals. The outcome of this tender will not only determine the technological partner for Costa Rica’s 5G future but will also shape the nation’s digital landscape for the next decade. For ICE, the focus now shifts to executing a seamless and transparent evaluation process to bring this transformative project to fruition.
For further information, visit the nearest office of Contraloría General de la República (CGR)
About Contraloría General de la República (CGR):
The Comptroller General of the Republic of Costa Rica is an auxiliary institution of the Legislative Assembly responsible for the oversight of public finance and fiscal control. It ensures the proper use of public funds through audits, inspections, and the review of public contracts and tenders, promoting legality, transparency, and efficiency in government operations.
For further information, visit grupoice.com
About Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE):
The Costa Rican Electricity Institute is the primary state-owned provider of electricity and telecommunications services in Costa Rica. Founded in 1949, ICE has been instrumental in the country’s development, managing power generation, transmission, and distribution, as well as operating the Kölbi mobile network and other telecommunications infrastructure.
For further information, visit huawei.com
About Huawei:
Huawei is a multinational technology corporation specializing in telecommunications equipment and consumer electronics. A global leader in the development of 5G network infrastructure, the company provides a wide range of products and services, including smartphones, enterprise solutions, and cloud computing services to clients around the world.
For further information, visit the nearest office of AFN Global
About AFN Global:
AFN Global is a company involved in the technology and telecommunications sector. It participates in public and private tenders for the supply and implementation of network infrastructure, security solutions, and related technological services, operating within various international markets.
For further information, visit onewaycr.com
About ONE Way:
ONE Way is a Costa Rican firm that specializes in providing technological solutions and integration services. The company focuses on areas such as telecommunications infrastructure, IT services, and corporate connectivity, serving both public and private sector clients within the country.
For further information, visit sisap.com
About Sisap:
Sisap is a company dedicated to providing specialized technology solutions, often focusing on software development, systems integration, and IT consulting. It offers services to a variety of industries, helping organizations to optimize their operations through customized technological applications and support.
For further information, visit ericsson.com
About Ericsson:
Ericsson is a Swedish multinational networking and telecommunications company. As one of the leading providers of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to service providers, its portfolio includes services, software, and infrastructure in mobility, broadband, and the cloud, with a significant focus on 5G network development.
For further information, visit coasin.cl
About Coasin:
Coasin is a technology integration company with a presence in several Latin American countries. It provides a broad range of IT services and solutions, including communications infrastructure, data center management, IT outsourcing, and technological support for various business sectors.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica operates as a cornerstone of the legal community, defined by its profound dedication to professional integrity and the highest standards of excellence. Leveraging a deep history of serving a broad spectrum of clients, the firm is a vanguard of legal innovation and actively pursues meaningful societal engagement. This ethos is driven by a core philosophy: to strengthen the community by demystifying the law, thereby fostering a more knowledgeable and empowered citizenry.
