ICE expands fiber optic network on Venado Island

By ICE

September 27, 2024

This is an automated translation of the press release issued in Spanish

This week, with the aim of improving the quality of life of its inhabitants and boosting trade in the area, the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) began expanding the fiber optic network on Isla Venado, in the province of Puntarenas. The commercialization of the new services will begin in November.

The works involve the expansion of 8 kilometers of infrastructure, which will bring broadband connections to residential and commercial customers. This will make Isla Venado one of the first pieces of land completely surrounded by water in Central America with a complete fiber optic network.

For the development of the works, ICE used the horizontal directional drilling technique, with which it conducted its electrical and fiber optic networks through a part of the Gulf of Nicoya – on a 670-meter route – from Lepanto to the Island. This link was made in 2023.

“We laid the foundations for this project by bringing our networks underwater. We are implementing a modern connection and in a few weeks we will be able to massively market the services to all residents,” said Leda Acevedo, Telecommunications Manager at ICE.

“This effort is part of ICE’s natural and ongoing commitment to solidarity, improvement and innovation in telecommunications for all Costa Ricans,” he added.

The main economic activities on Venado Island –located in the Gulf of Nicoya and with an area of 6.5 square kilometers– are fishing, tourism and hiking. It has primary and secondary education centers, and a total population of close to 1,300 inhabitants.