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Costa Rica: ICE considering VoIP regulations Print E-mail
Tuesday, 15 February 2005
Costa Rica's telecommunications monopoly ICE is considering whether to regulate VoIP.

ICE is considering whether VoIP is a value-added service to be regulated or if it is a use of public telecommunications resources and could be considered fraudulent. Since 1998, ICE has supported a bill that would mean jail time for those illegally profiting from telecoms services.

"VoIP has the characteristics to qualify as a telephone service, it is considered as a substitute for regular service and it requires the use of public infrastructure," ICE representative Claudio Bermúdez said.

Currently, a ten-minute direct dial call to the U.S. from Costa Rica costs about US$ 3.00. The same call is only US$ 0.30 using VoIP. About 37% of all voice traffic to the U.S. now utilises VoIP, according to ICE, which has seen its long distance revenues diminish.

Intelecon Research & Consultancy Ltd. 15/02/2005
Source: Business News Americas