Forest fires hit Costa Rica's fiber networks, Chile acts to prevent blazes

Forest fires in Costa Rica in recent weeks have damaged fiber optic networks, according to local communications chamber Infocom.

The blazes affected telecommunications infrastructure mostly in the east of the country, in Montes de Oro, Paso Canoas, Paraíso de Cartago, Piedras Blancas de Osa and areas surrounding the Interamerica Norte highway in the country's northeast.

Around half of the infrastructure failures were reported in Guanacaste province, but there was also damage in the Central Pacific region further south, between Jacó and Quepos and on the route 27 highway.

The number of users affected was not reported.

In a statement, Infocom called on the public works and transportation ministry to take action to reestablish connections and local governments to remove vegetation along fiber optic routes that is susceptible to catching fire.

Infocom stated that large investments will be required to replace damaged networks.

Chilean govt acts to prevent fires 

Meanwhile, In Chile, the authorities committed to carrying out vegetation removal to help prevent the forest fires that hit the country in February, which caused 152 antennas to stop operating in the Valparaíso region, as well as 30 in O'Higgins and 11 in Maule.

A 5G spectrum tender had to be rescheduled for this week so that operators can concentrate efforts on investments to replace infrastructure damaged or destroyed by the fires.