Three global telecommunications companies have placed their bids to deploy a third-generation (3G) mobile network in Costa Rica, vying for a project to set up 950,000 new lines here by the second half of 2009, according to the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE).

Huawei Technologies, ZTE Corporation and Ericsson each gave their proposals Tuesday morning, the deadline set for the international public bidding process, ICE said in a press release.

3G is a wireless network that promises advanced services to cell phone users, including video calls and the ability to surf the Web at top speed.

In August, the government stopped ICE from awarding the 3G contract to Huawei, a Chinese company that had made a bid of $582.8 million to install the lines – more than double the $225 million ICE had budgeted for the project.

Huawei's fresh bid is $245 million plus a $9 million share in Banco de Costa Rica, ICE said.

Also Chinese, ZTE has bid $446,944,559 with a $6.75 million share in the same bank, BCR.

The part Costa Rican consortium of Swedish telecom provider Ericsson has proposed $340,921,843 and a $9.6 million share in Banco CMB Costa Rica.