Wireless Internet Coming To Juan Santamaría Airport

WITHIN the next three months, the Costa Rican Electricity and Telecom Institute (ICE) plans to begin offering wireless Internet service (WLAN) at JuanSantamaríaInternationalAirport.

The plan is part of a pilot project to bring wireless to several airports, malls and public spaces throughout the country, the daily La República reported.

Installing the network at Juan Santamaría will cost approximately ¢20 million ($47,600). Once it begins operating, customers will be able to connect to the Internet without the use of a phone line or cable connection by accessing a special frequency.

The pilot project will last three months. During that time, ICE will evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the project. If the project is successful, ICE will expand service to additional points within the airport.

The trial period will be free. After it expires, customers will be required to purchase pre-paid cards such similar to those used for public phone calls.

After JuanSantamaríaAirport, ICE plans to implement wireless service at Liberia’s DanielOduberInternationalAirport and eventually at TobíasBolañosAirport.

ICE officials said they hope to someday install the service at the country’s major shopping malls.