During the last century, the world has faced some great inventions that have changed its course: the telephone and also the internet. Both were received with the same lack of trust, but slowly, they managed to get people’s attention and admiration. After many years of continuos research, the technology has brought us where we’re today. Everything appears possible having a computer and an internet connection: Interactive video, watching movies and listening to music, publishing your thoughts and ideas for free. In Costa Rica, the largest communications operators are RACSA, Amnet Costa Rica and of course ICE Costa Rica Internet. American Data Networks has its origins in Costa Rica and it was meant to be a solution for world’s need of high capacity transmission of messages. They offer added value and services to those companies with operations with high telecommunications requirements in Costa Rica. This way, they allow fast expansion of the internet. The official mission of Amnet Costa Rica is be the best option in telecommunication services. They intend to offer constantly innovation in technology and to enhance the data transfer. The web is a faster, more efficient and secure place. Trying to achieve this mission, Amnet Costa Rica has turned into a leader on the market of telecommunications by focussing on two sides: the clients and also the top quality standards. This tactic has made rid of it known in the entire world.

In Latin America, Costa Rica has got the second highest internet penetration, after Chile. Of course this country includes a modern telecom infrastructure, it’s still minimal liberalised telecom market in the region. As we allready mentioned, ICE Costa Rica internet (ICE - Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad) and its subsidiary RACSA have the absolute power. Both fixed-line and mobile telephony, internet and all sorts of data communications are supplied by them. The only real exception is the pay TV. Nowadays, the recent changes of the today’s technology have influenced that old situation. If the monopol of ICE Costa Rica internet worked perfectly previously, now, it’s leading to big problems for its users. For instance, in December 2004, mobile lines ran dry completely.

Recently, VoIP services/ Servicios VoIP (Voice over ip) is among the newest technologies on the earth that threatens ICE’s hegemony. This new gadget is converting the voice signal right into a digital signal and transmit it to the web connection. The most important advantages of VoIP calls would be the following: big savings on call rates, flexibility and best customer service. As well, it’s great additional features such as: call forwarding to a specific number, send or call directly to voicemail, block the calling party number and voice mail, that is sent to the email inbox being an attachment. Unhealthy parts are concerning the service quality which depends on problems in power, Online connections and the security - VoIP is susceptible to worms, viruses and hacking. Considering all of the benefits and all the disadvantages, we came to the coclusion this revolutionary technology will replace the traditional phone systems completely.