Telephone Service

As with all telecommunications in Costa Rica, the residential phone system is operated and controlled by the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE). 

Phone service here is generally very reliable and inexpensive (about $10 - $20 per month depending on usage).

However, at many locations throughout Costa Rica, there are simply not enough available lines.  What does this mean?  It means that even if you want a phone line in your home, there may not be enough lines to give you one.  This means you must wait.  How long?  I know people, especially in the more remote areas from San José, that have waited 10 years. I know people IN San Jose waiting for 2-3 years.  Couple that with the cell phone line ownership rules and you can easily find yourself living somewhere without communications.

What to do

If you are renting a place, the phone line will be owned by your landlord.  They will probably make the line available to you, but it may well be restricted from making (or even receiving) calls from outside Costa Rica.  Clear this up before you sign the contract.

If buying an existing home, the ownership of the line should be included in the home purchase if even as a side contract.

If purchasing new property or building a home, the builder may well assure you that you will  get a line.  DO NOT BELIEVE IT. Get it in writing with heavy penalties for non-performance.

International Service - Long Distance (LD)

This is an add-on.  You must go to an ICE office and request this service.  Only the owner may do this.  Take your passport!  Long distance rates run from about $.55 to $.90 per minute, so it is not cheap to make calls.

Some folks elect to use callback service.  Callback can best be described as having someone in the USA (which has the lowest LD rates) make a call for you and then conference you in!  The difference is that the 'friend' is actually a computer system.  This can save you a LOT of money on your Long Distance bill BUT it is totally ILLEGAL in Costa Rica to use callback services as this defrauds the government of revenue.  Use at your own risk.

Calling Cards

Calling cards are available all over Costa Rica.  That is the good news.  The bad news is that the rates are about the same as long distance from your (Costa Rica) residence.  You will save a little bit, but not much.

800 Service to Costa Rica

Toll free 800 number services from the USA are cheap, reliable and legal.  I use them in all my businesses here in Costa Rica as well as personally to keep in touch with US relatives. 

Cost from the US or Canada is $.15 per minute and might be a viable alternative if you want to save some money.  Note this solves your INCOMING problem, but does not lower the cost of the calls you MAKE.  Some folks set up calling times or just hook up over MSN or Yahoo when they want a call made.

Voice Over IP  (VOIP) in Costa Rica

To work really well, all of these services require a broadband (fast) Internet connection to make and receive quality LD calls.  Some say they do not, but I disagree.  They ARE worth trying at a lower speed if you have no choice.  All require a high speed (128k min.) connection to work decently.  The service I use allows you to pickup calls on your computer, wherever you go around the world, with a SkypeIn number. www.skype.com. For more information on what I use, read here.

ICE, the local monopoly has  said they support VOIP as the future and will not be blocking!

Goodies (Extra Services)

You may order service with call forwarding, call waiting, caller ID, and order an unlisted number as well.

FAX and Answering Machines

These will work fine here.

Caveat - Internet usage

If you plan to use your home phone for a modem so you can use your computer, be aware you are charged by the minute.  If you do a lot of surfing, even though the cost per minute is quite low, it can and will add up and the cost for service (above) will be on the low side.