The United States government announced its support for Costa Rica in its development of effectively regulating and implementing trusted 5G networks.  

In telecommunications, 5G is the fifth generation technology standard for cellular networks, which cellular phone companies began deploying worldwide in 2019.

Last week, the U.S. Department of State Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy Nathaniel C. Fick, met with President Rodrigo Chaves-Robles, to analyze the priorities related to cybersecurity and telecommunications.

Fick was part of the U.S. executives delegation, including the Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technologies Anne Neuberger and U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica Cynthia Telles.

According to the U.S. Embassy, Neuberger and the U.S. representatives also discussed with President Chaves and Minister of Science, Innovation, Technology and Telecommunications (MICITT) Paula Bogantes the implementation of U.S. cybersecurity assistance to help Costa Rica secure its infrastructure in the wake of 2022 ransomware attacks.  

The U.S. State Department granted $25 million in cybersecurity assistance in March 2023.

The Costa Rican government’s networks are now protected by a virtual Cybersecurity Operations Center, which helps authorities quickly detect and respond to threats. 

"This effort protects the data privacy of Costa Ricans and ensures the timely provision of essential government services," said the embassy in its statement.

Following the Regional 5G Network Workshop, organized by the United States and held in San José last week, both governments agreed to foster open, interoperable, reliable, and secure digital infrastructure in Costa Rica.   

The workshop analyzed crucial areas including the promotion of secure 5G and future 6G wireless technologies, development of the digital economy through public-private partnerships, and international cooperation on digital issues.

"Affirming the foundational principles outlined in the 2021 Prague Proposals on Telecommunication Supplier Diversity, our dialogues focus on enhancing digital connectivity, ensuring cybersecurity, and supporting innovation across our digital economies," said the U.S. Embassy in its statement.

According to the embassy, both nations agreed on developing secure, resilient, and open 5G networks globally, observing within the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) ecosystem, as well as protecting privacy, intellectual property, and human rights.

Both countries agree on six initiatives:

• Telecommunications supplier diversity in Latin America. 

• Research and development focusing on 5G and 6G technologies.

• Cybersecurity to maintain robust public and private digital infrastructure.

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance to develop a framework following democratic values, human rights, and maintains a competitive, innovation-friendly ecosystem.

• Cloud infrastructure to enhance cooperation on research and development, and promote industry growth in both nations.

• Unlicensed spectrum use of the 6GHz band to support wireless connectivity and innovation in Latin America.

The partnership between the United States and Costa Rica represents a pivotal milestone in harnessing the transformative power of digital technology for the enhancement of economic vitality, the fortification of security frameworks, and the overall betterment of our societies, grounded in the esteemed values and objectives shared by our countries, added the embassy.

 

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