The first 5G internet signal tower was installed on Wednesday at the University of Costa Rica in San José Province.

According to the Institute of Electricity, the installation of the new technology is part of a pilot project to start testing 5G technology in the country.

"We are advancing to provide 5G technology in the country soon”, Luis Diego Abarca, Telecommunications manager of the institute said.

In telecommunications, 5G is the fifth-generation technology standard for broadband cellular networks, which cellular phone companies began deploying worldwide in 2019. It's the planned successor to the 4G networks which provide connectivity to most current cell phones.

During the first testing, the uploaded and downloaded speeds achieved on cell phones with a 5G network exceeded 1,000 megabytes per second, Henry Lizano, Director of Technology at the University, said.

According to the experts, among the benefits offered by 5G technology are: higher download speeds of up to 10 gigabits per second, faster than existing networks, it has higher bandwidth and can connect to different devices and improved quality of Internet services in crowded areas. 

Additionally, due to the increased bandwidth, it is expected for the networks to increasingly be used as general internet service providers (ISPs) for laptops and desktop computers, competing with existing ISPs such as cable internet. And it will make possible new applications in internet-of-things (IoT) and machine-to-machine areas.

The installation of the first 5G tower at the university, is because 30 years ago the inauguration of the first internet connection in Costa Rica took place in the same place in 1993.

Costa Rica continues to make improvements in technology. Recently the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Finland is interested in developing a 5G network project in the country. 

This week, Costa Rica became the first Latin American country to provide a digital signal in the Brazilian Japanese standard (ISDB-Tb) in 100% of the country, according to the Ministry of Technology.

 

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