The Superintendence of Telecommunications (SUTEL) of Costa Rica has published the terms of reference for three public bidding processes that will grant frequencies for AM Radio Broadcasting, FM Radio Broadcasting, and Television Broadcasting.
The frequencies available through public tender are as follows:
- AM Radio: 525 kHz to 1705 kHz.
- FM Radio: 88 MHz to 108 MHz.
- Television: 174 MHz to 216 MHz and 470 MHz to 608 MHz.
This initiative is part of the National Telecommunications Development Plan 2022–2027, “Costa Rica: Toward Inclusive Digital Disruption,” which aims to ensure the continuity of radio and television broadcasting services, provide legal certainty to future concessionaires, and protect the public interest given the informative, cultural, and recreational nature of these services. The bidding will be conducted under a sealed-envelope scheme with an additional bidding round.
Base prices for each frequency
SUTEL has established the following reference prices according to service type and coverage area:
1. AM radio:
- Analog AM: US $9,653.
- Hybrid AM: US $28,959.
2. FM radio:
2.1. Regional coverage (analog FM)
- Chorotega: from US $24,545.
- Central Pacific: from US $18,945.
- Huetar Norte: from US $26,711.
- Brunca: from US $22,295.
- Huetar Caribe: from US $28,320.
2.2. Regional coverage (hybrid FM)
- Chorotega: from US $49,090.
- Central Pacific: from US $37,890.
- Huetar Norte: from US $53,422.
- Brunca: from US $44,590.
- Huetar Caribe: from US $56,640.
2.3. National coverage
- Analog FM: US $193,051.
- Hybrid FM: US $386,102.
3. Open television:
3.1. Regional coverage
- Chorotega: US $157,629.
- Central Pacific: US $205,506.
- Huetar Norte: US $325,044.
- Brunca: US $256,482.
- Huetar Caribe: US $271,349.
3.2. National coverage
- Digital TV (ISDB-Tb): US $1,601,786.
Eligibility requirements
Bidders must demonstrate legal, financial, technical, and experience-based competence. During the eligibility phase, they must provide:
- Legal capacity to operate in Costa Rica.
- Compliance with the General Telecommunications Law (No. 8642) and related regulations.
- Proven local or international experience in broadcasting services.
- Evidence of being current on tax, labor, and social security obligations.
Financial requirements
- Sufficient solvency to guarantee service continuity.
- Investment capacity for network deployment and maintenance.
- Submission of financial guarantees as required by the bidding documents.
- Transparency in the origin of funds to prevent market concentration or anti-competitive practices.
Technical requirements
- Submission of a network design (national or regional) aligned with the National Frequency Allocation Plan (PNAF).
- Efficient coverage, including rural or hard-to-reach areas.
- Incorporation of quality standards in service delivery.
- Option to adopt digital radio technologies in AM and FM (such as the IBOC standard).
- Full utilization of transmission capacity in television, prioritizing frequencies with better propagation.
Limitations and conditions
- Avoid concentration of spectrum that could limit market competition.
- Respect border coordination agreements to prevent interference with neighboring countries.
- Comply with the Integrated Waste Management Law (No. 8839) and environmental sustainability criteria for equipment and electronic waste management.
- The Executive Branch may reject all offers that fail to comply with the terms of reference, the National Telecommunications Development Plan (PNDT), or international obligations.
Bid submission deadline
The deadline for submitting offers is November 25, 2025.
Subsequently, the process will include:
- Evaluation of eligibility requirements (20 business days).
- Publication of received economic offers (1 business day).
- Additional bidding round (1 business day).
- Economic analysis (5 business days).
- Review of technical projects and coverage areas (33 business days).
- Approval of results and submission to the Ministry of Science, Innovation, Technology and Telecommunications (MICITT) (15 business days).
