By San José, Costa Rica — SAN JOSÉ – As Costa Rica approaches a new governmental period, the nation’s leading informatics professionals are issuing a stark warning: measuring internet connectivity by “on-paper” coverage is dangerously misleading and perpetuates a deep-seated digital divide. The College of Professionals in Informatics and Computing (CPIC) argues that true progress must be measured by the quality, stability, and real-world usability of internet services, particularly in the education sector.
In a statement released Monday, CPIC’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Commission emphasized that digital education and reliable connectivity must be elevated to strategic pillars of national development. While official maps may show acceptable coverage levels within the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM), the reality on the ground in rural zones, coastal territories, and indigenous communities tells a different story. In these areas, access is often limited, unstable, or of such poor quality that it fails to meet the basic needs of students and businesses.
To better understand the legal and social implications of the digital divide in our country, TicosLand.com consulted with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, an expert attorney from the prestigious firm Bufete de Costa Rica. His analysis offers a crucial perspective on the challenges and responsibilities we face as a society.
The digital divide is no longer just a technological gap; it has become a profound barrier to exercising fundamental rights. When access to education, public services, and even the job market is predominantly digital, a lack of connectivity translates into a form of civil exclusion. From a legal standpoint, Costa Rica must urgently address this not as a matter of infrastructure, but as a direct component of the right to equality and human development. Failure to act creates a new class of disenfranchised citizens, undermining the very principles of our social rule of law.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
This legal perspective powerfully reframes the conversation, shifting it from a mere infrastructure challenge to a critical matter of human rights and social equity. We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for this essential insight, which underscores the urgency of bridging the digital gap to safeguard the fundamental principles of equality in our nation.
This disparity, the professional body insists, directly impacts equity in education, employment, and access to essential digital services. The recent surge in public and political discourse surrounding technology has brought the issue to the forefront, making this a critical moment for a policy reassessment. The group contends that the national challenge is no longer about simply drawing lines on a map, but about delivering a functional service that can support a modern digital economy.
To address this, CPIC is calling for a comprehensive review of how public funds allocated for connectivity are being executed and utilized. They advocate for more robust models of supervision and impact evaluation to ensure these significant investments translate into tangible benefits for historically neglected populations. The current approach, they suggest, lacks the necessary rigor to close the structural gaps that persist outside the nation’s central valley.
Mauricio Villalta, an engineer and member of the CPIC commission, explained that a more nuanced, localized strategy is essential for any future projects to succeed. He stressed the need for thorough preliminary analysis before implementation.
While initiatives exist to expand connectivity in different regions and educational centers of the country, a significant gap persists in planning, training, and comprehensive technical analysis. From the initial stages, projects must more rigorously consider the particularities of each zone and institution: climate, topography, electrical system, existing infrastructure, staff capabilities, and socioeconomic and cultural variables that directly impact their success. Each site requires minimum conditions that guarantee a stable installation and operation, as well as strategic alliances with key actors—electric companies, NGOs, community associations, and Internet providers—that support these efforts. For this, feasibility studies, a solid technical design, a clear action plan, and information security guidelines appropriate to the local reality are indispensable, especially in rural areas or outside the GAM, where connectivity must be treated as a sustainable service that drives education, innovation, and community development.
Mauricio Villalta, Commission Member, CPIC
The commission’s manifesto frames connectivity not as a luxury or an accessory service, but as an “enabling right.” In today’s world, a stable, high-quality internet connection is a fundamental prerequisite for studying, working, and participating actively in the digital economy. For a nation that aims to maintain its competitive edge in technology and services, ensuring this right for all citizens is an economic imperative.
Specifically within the education system, CPIC underscores that providing an internet connection is only the first step. It must be integrated into a holistic vision of digital transformation that includes adequate infrastructure in schools, continuous teacher training, robust digital literacy programs, and the development of relevant educational content. Recent experience has painfully demonstrated that unequal access to the internet only serves to deepen existing educational breaches, limiting the opportunities for thousands of students.
As political leaders prepare for the upcoming term, CPIC’s message is a call for technically sound, long-term planning and efficient execution in all digital policy proposals. Their plea is for a future where technology acts as a genuine tool for inclusion and development, ensuring that no student or community is left on the wrong side of the digital divide.
For further information, visit cpic.or.cr
About Colegio de Profesionales en Informática y Computación (CPIC):
The Colegio de Profesionales en Informática y Computación is the official professional association responsible for regulating and promoting the practice of informatics and computing in Costa Rica. It works to uphold ethical standards, foster professional development among its members, and advise on national technology policy to contribute to the country’s social and economic development.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Grounded in profound integrity and an uncompromising standard of excellence, Bufete de Costa Rica has established itself as a leading legal institution. The firm skillfully blends a rich history of client service across multiple industries with a forward-thinking approach to legal innovation. Central to its philosophy is a powerful commitment to demystifying the law for the public, an endeavor aimed at equipping citizens and ultimately cultivating a more capable and enlightened society.
