The European Union and Costa Rica have further enhanced digital connectivity and technological sovereignty with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Costa Rica’s Ministry of Science, Innovation, Technology and Telecommunications (MICITT) and Hispasat, a leading European satellite provider.
The MoU, signed in Brussels in the presence of European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela, is part of a joint effort to develop a shared telecommunications satellite infrastructure under the Condosat initiative, the shared satellite project designed to provide high-speed, sovereign and reliable communications to Latin American countries. The MoU, part of the Global Gateway Investment Agenda and the EU-LAC Digital Alliance will expand broadband access, particularly in remote areas and ensure that Costa Rica retains full control over its data and connectivity.
The agreement will be followed by technical discussions to define the project’s scope, financing and implementation strategy. The EU, in a Team Europe approach, will support the initiative through a Team Europe approach, pooling resources, financial instruments, and technical expertise.
This MoU follows the agreement signed between Hispasat and the Caribbean Telecommunications Union in February of 2025, reinforcing the EU’s broader strategy to strengthen digital partnerships and infrastructure in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Under the EU-LAC Digital Alliance, the EU and Costa Rica work together on a rich digital agenda, from secure and meaningful connectivity to AI applications and e-governance to improve the quality of digital services. Some of the recent examples of this collaboration include an EU-funded cyberforensics lab and a 5G testbed.
In the spirit of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, the EU and Costa Rica seek to harness the potential of digital technology, attract investments, support technological sovereignty and reduce the digital divide. In its role as the 2025 OECD Ministerial Council chair, Costa Rica is promoting the implementation of a human centric AI, backed by the EU and its Member States.
This agreement is a win-win for both European businesses and the people of Costa Rica,” said Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela. “It will create new opportunities for EU companies in the high-tech digital sector while delivering secure, high-quality connectivity to Costa Rican communities. By working together, we will improve basic services and ensure that families, businesses or schools even in the remote areas benefit from the economic and social opportunities that digital inclusion brings. Secure and reliable internet access is a precondition for sustainable development, and Europe has a lot to offer in this area. It’s great to see that we can cooperate with Costa Rica on improving the lives of local communities.”
