Kölbi Mobile operator indicated that, despite the criticism, it will implement the “Fair Use of Internet”, starting today.
This plan states that when its customers consume their total mobile data, their browsing speed is reduced to 128 kilobytes per second (Kbps).
This provision will favor equity in access to the mobile network resources, so that the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) can maintain the highest quality standards,
declared Patricia Tenorio, Marketing Director at ICE.
However, the Ombudsman’s Office stated that this policy, approved by the Council of the Superintendence of Telecommunications (SUTEL), would go against the human right to access the Internet.
In addition, the Ombudsman said that instead of punishing customers by lowering the speed of navigation, it is operators’ responsibility to improve their infrastructure to avoid congestion.
Tenorio reacted to this comment and indicated that ICE has made extensions in the network to improve Internet service coverage.
However, a recent report by OpenSignal and Sutel states that Costa Rica is a country where access to mobile data is excellent, but mobile Internet speeds are poor.