No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeNewsCosta Rica Tackles Digital Divide with AI and 5G Plans

Costa Rica Tackles Digital Divide with AI and 5G Plans

Costa Rica is stepping into the technological frontier with its embrace of artificial intelligence (AI) and 5G connectivity, positioning itself as a regional leader amid a global race for dominance led by powers like the United States and China. In October 2024, the Ministry of Science, Innovation, Technology, and Telecommunications (MICITT) launched the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (ENIA) 2024-2027, making Costa Rica the first Central American nation with a comprehensive AI policy. This ambitious roadmap aims to harness AI ethically and responsibly, focusing on education, infrastructure, and equitable access while fostering local innovation.

The ENIA outlines key priorities: building a robust digital backbone, including 5G networks, and establishing a National Center of Excellence in AI. Experts like Tomás de Camino emphasize the urgency of closing a digital divide that has persisted since the 1980s. “If we don’t train creators, not just users, 5G and AI will widen inequalities,” he warns. Currently, rural internet coverage lags, with only about 60% of Costa Ricans living in those areas enjoying reliable high-speed access, according to 2023 estimates—a gap the government seeks to bridge.

As far as 5G is concerned, a April 2024 agreement with the U.S., dubbed “Cooperation in the Digital Economy,” promises to accelerate deployment and explore future 6G technologies. This partnership emphasizes open, secure networks and cybersecurity, aligning with Costa Rica’s tech-friendly reputation, bolstered by investments from giants like Intel, which in 2022 began AI training programs in schools. Yet, economic constraints loom large. With a GDP dwarfed by tech titans, Costa Rica needs to lean on a public-private collaboration to fund R&D, a challenge given competing priorities like healthcare and ecotourism.

Ethically, the ENIA prioritizes transparency and human rights, with plans for a regulatory framework to balance innovation and safety. Regionally, Costa Rica aims to outpace neighbors like Panama, leveraging its political stability and sustainability ethos—though 5G’s energy demands could test its green credentials. Public sentiment remains cautiously optimistic, per anecdotal X posts, but success hinges on execution.

Trending Now

The Cocos-Galapagos Swimway Will Create a Legacy for Costa Rica and the World!

At the UN Oceans Conference in Nice, France, which Costa Rica is co-sponsoring, President Rodrigo Chaves Robles has an opportunity to make history by...

From Bookie to “Pura Vida”: A True Costa Rica Expat Story

I recently wrote about my fear that three decades after learning Spanish, I was now slowly losing my fluency, forgetting words I had once...

Rising Seas Threaten Costa Rica’s Beaches and Communities by 2030

Costa Rica’s iconic coastlines, from Limón’s Caribbean shores to Guanacaste’s Pacific beaches, face growing threats from rising sea levels driven by climate change. The...

Gold Cup 2025: Costa Rica, Mexico and Canada Aim for Glory

While other CONCACAF teams have their sights set on the 2026 World Cup, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Canada are raising the stakes by targeting...

Costa Rica’s Massive Drug Raid Targets Cocaine Network to Europe

Costa Rican authorities struck a major blow against international drug trafficking dismantling a criminal network that smuggled over five tons of cocaine to Europe....

UN Ocean Conference Opens with Push for Deep-Sea Mining Moratorium

The UN Ocean Conference began Monday in France with a call from Secretary-General António Guterres to prevent the ocean floor from becoming the “Wild...
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica