As of 2019, Costa Rica’s homologation process no longer accepts outside test reports for cellular products to be imported or commercialized in Costa Rica. Any product utilizing cellular technology (data or voice; 2G, 3G, or 4G) must undergo testing at an accredited lab within Costa Rica.
After testing, reports are submitted with other documentation to SUTEL, the Agency responsible for radio frequency management in Costa Rica. SUTEL (Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones) is Costa Rica’s equivalent to the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) in the U.S.
In addition to in-country testing of a specific cellular product, any company (or brand) seeking approval to sell cellular products in Costa Rica must also be registered with SUTEL — a complicated process that LARCG is equipped to handle, as we are with all Latin America certification issues.
Examples of cellular products that require testing in Costa Rica include:
- Cellphones
- Tablets
- Laptops
- Telematic devices
- Mobile payment terminals
The major cellular communications companies operating in Costa Rica are Claro, Movistar, and Kolbi.
Contact us about the homologation process in Costa Rica — or to know more about the certification process anywhere in Latin America, from Mexico and the Caribbean to Argentina and Chile. LARCG handles the entire homologation process in Costa Rica and has a strong working relationship with both SUTEL and the country’s accredited test labs.