Network failure causes 3-hour Internet, cellphone blackout

A network failure at the state-run Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) Wednesday kept some 300,000 customers around the country from using Internet and cellphone services for three hours.

According to reports from ICE’s support line (1115), the problem began at 3 p.m., and service was reestablished at about 5:45 p.m. Neither the company’s support staff nor its press office could immediately say what had caused the failure.

ICE reported connection failures on Internet, IP and 3G telephone services, both for making calls and sending messages. There also were reports of problems with fixed and GSM lines.

At 6:15 p.m., the international connection to websites outside Costa Rica had not been completely reestablished. Those connections were back online by 6:30 p.m.

Users from other telecommunication companies were not affected by the failure.