Costa Rica bids from America Movil and Telefonica

Mexico's America Movil and Spain's Telefonica placed bids to offer cell phone service in Costa Rica, pushing the country closer to opening up the state-run wireless telecommunications sector to competition.

Ending the 4-decade-old telecommunications monopoly was one of the conditions to enter the Central American Free Trade Agreement with the United States.

Barring any future delays, concessions will be granted February 2011 and services could be available by September next year.

Original source: Reuters