Alvarion, an Israeli provider of wireless technology, has been awarded a $6 million contract by the Costa Rica Electricity Institute (ICE) to set up wireless WiMax Internet connections across the country.

ICE, the country's primary telecommunications service provider, expects WiMax to make connections faster and reach far-flung rural areas.

The Tico Times reported in April 2006 that wireless service was already becoming easily available – with user's setting up laptops at cafés and restaurants – in the city.

Telerad, Alvarion's local partner for this turnkey project, will deploy its WiMax platform to enhance Internet connections outside San José too, particularly in the countryside in the Caribbean province of Limón, according to a press release on Alvarion's Web site.