ICE's appeal calls the SUTEL action illegal, inconsistent and flawed due to a “lack of proof and evidence to justify the sanction.” It also argues that ICE’s promotions did not cause any of its competitors to exit the market or block entry to new competitors.
ICE was ordered to pay a ₡2.2 billion ($4 million) fine for unfair competition through a discount program aimed at attracting prepaid mobile phone users.
Consulting firm Demoscopía conducted the study from August to October last year, evaluating users' perception of services offered by the five phone carriers for landlines, IP phones, mobile phones and mobile Internet.
A Civil and Administrative Tribunal ordered the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) to pay ₡500,000 ($945) to two of its customers for a lack of signal that prevented them from seeking help after a traffic accident three years ago. The plaintiffs say the amount awarded is far too little.
More than 80 percent of smartphones in the country have Internet connections above 1 Mbps, and users are overwhelmingly satisfied with their current carriers.
