Wireless market to open in 2007.

WIRELESS MARKET TO OPEN IN 2007. The Telecommunications Industry Association praised Bush administration officials for securing trade commitments from Costa Rica to open wireless and tech sectors to competition in that country, reports RCR Wireless News (Jan. 28, 2004):

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick and his team concluded Central American Free Trade Agreement talks with Costa Rica a few days earlier. "Given the circumstances in Costa Rica and the reluctance we faced just several months ago to any telecommunications liberalization, we have come a long way," said TIA President Matthew J. Flanigan. "Once the Costa Ricans begin reforming their telecommunications sector in the next year, we hope that the country will accelerate the process of opening up all telecommunications services to competition";

Costa Rica, according to TIA, also agreed to remove trade barriers to Internet services and private data services--beginning Jan. 1, 2006--as part of a broader effort to reform the country's state-owned telecom sector. The wireless market will be opened to competition in 2007. Costa Rica also committed to allowing service providers the flexibility of selecting the technology of their choice in providing their services, a requirement TIA said was critical.