Web
Map Shows Status of Cell Telephone Coverage
By
the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) has published on its Web site a map of the country showing the degree of coverage for its 2G and 3G cell phone networks.
The map only has four categories: excellent, very good, good and regular. Regular areas are covered in red and there is plenty of red areas on the map. That term means that the company does not guarantee coverage. Excellent means that the cell phones will work in buildings. Very good means that the cell phone will work inside a vehicle. Good means the caller has to be outside.
(VICKI ADDS: HOW on earth do they come to the conclusion that "does not guarantee coverage" or "caller has to be outside" equals "Good" or "Regular" service???? NEITHER of those would warrant those ratings in the world of Customer Service I come from!!!)
Readers can see the map at http://GrupoICE.com/wps/portal/mapa_cobertura
(VICKI ADDS: I looked on the map at the Escazu - San Antonio area. I've lived in 5 areas in this vicinity in the past 9 months and I can tell you, ICE SUCKS BIG TIME in these areas!!! When I was up in Pico Blanco [where the hotel is] I literally had to borrow an old phone & stand in the corner of my window of the cottage/cabina I was in & 90+% of the time is STILL wouldn't work!! I lost a job that would have been over the internet because I kept loosing the guy on a Skype call - no thanx to the Kolbi Datacard! I have tried to get coverage in Downtown San Jose both for the cell & WiFi [mind you I'm paying for the max whatever it is] - 85% of the time - nada! I've been a few places up at Vista de Oro above Country Day School - did NOT work 90% of the time and above La Monastere - It only worked about 70% of the time. I've been to ICE offices 4 times and EACH time the various employees I talked to [not just at their desk] told me that just south of the park in Centro Escazu is where it starts to suck - BUT - is GOOD with MovieStar! I've spoken with MANY MANY people in this area and just about all have shared similar experiences. Those with MovieStar have had WAYYYYY BETTER success!!)
The 3G network appears to cover more of the country than the 2G. There still are areas with no coverage that appear to be in the Talamanca mountains.
The map allows viewers to pick individual provinces and the type of network. A drawbar allows users to zero in on a particular neighborhood. The Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones required the company to post the map because it is required by law.
