Costa Rica has a relatively modern telecommunications infrastructure.
In 2011, the government monopoly of the ICE Group (Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad) came to an end and new companies were allowed to work in Costa Rican telecommunications. Now, everything related to telephones or Internet from the ICE Group is under the name of Kölbi. The most important companies for mobile Internet and mobile phones are Kölbi, Claro Costa Rica, Movistar or TúYo Móvil.
ICE does not sell land lines or cell phones with a contract (postpago) to non-residents. If you are a resident, you have long waiting hours ahead of you. Installing the line takes between 15 and 22 days but ICE does not give you the phone, you have to buy it. In January 2013, installing a line cost 20,295 colones, with a guarantee deposit of 9,000 colones. The price per minute in full pricing (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) is 4.63 colones; reduced pricing, from 7 p.m. is half that price.
In order to get a fixed line installed you need to provide the following:
You can pay the installation of your line through these banks: BCR, BNCR; BCAC, Scotiabank, Promerica, BAC San José, Citibank, HSBC, Improsa.
This is the website for Kölbi in ICE Group, where you can find all the information for land phones, cell phones and internet: www.grupoice.com/wps/portal/kolbi