Using Bitcoin to recharge your mobile prepaid airtime and data is easy and secure. In this brief post, we explain how to top up mobile credit with Bitcoin in Costa Rica and provide an insight into the Country’s mobile operators’ offer.
Available operators
It is possible to top up all mobile operators in Costa Rica. These
Facts about mobile top ups
Mobile top-ups can be purchased for airtime, for internet and data services as well as operator bundled offers.
Mobile top-ups are only available for mobile prepaid customers. This means that if you have a postpaid subscription the top up will not work. So it is important you check you
Operators offer different price packages. Below is a quick overview of the price ranges of the top-ups offered by each operator.
- Claro Costa Rica Bundles: Min 7 USD and Max 15 USD
- Claro Costa Rica Internet: Min 12 USD and Max 20 USD
- Claro Costa Rica: Min 1 USD and Max 45 USD
- Full Movil Costa Rica: Min 3 USD and Max 45 USD
- Kolbi Costa Rica: Min 3 USD and Max 40 USD
- Movistar Costa Rica Bundles: Min 7 USD and Max 18 USD
- Movistar Costa Rica: Min 4 USD and Max 30 USD
- Tuyo Costa Rica: Min 3 USD and Max 30 USD
How does it work
Time needed: 4 minutes.
Topping up mobile credit with Bitcoin or altcoins in Costa Rica is secure and easy. Just follow these simple steps.
- Go to cryptorefills
Click here or enter www.cryptorefills.com on your desktop or mobile browser.
- Insert mobile number
Select Costa Rica and insert your mobile number. Then click (or tap) on the “Recharge” button.
- Select currency and package
Select the
crypto currency you wish to use to pay for your purchase. For example Bitcoin or Litecoin. Then select the package you wish to purchase, forexample 7 CRC.
Make sure the mobile operator displayed on the screen is correct. - Insert email and accept terms
Insert your email and tick the box to accept the Terms and Conditions. Click on proceed to payment. (Make sure your email is correct so that the Pin can be delivered to you and you can be contacted in case of issues).
- Make Bitcoin payment
Send the exact amount of crypto (e.g. Bitcoin) to the address displayed and follow the instructions. It is important you send exactly the amount displayed.
About Costa Rica Mobile Operators
The Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad had a monopoly on wireless communications until 2011. As soon as the the market was opened as required by DR-CAFTA, Claro and Movistar started offering their services. The new liberalised telecom sector has seen substantial growth in the past years.
Five operators provide mobile voice and data services in Costa Rica. Three of these are Mobile Network Operators, while two are Mobile Virtual Network Operators.
Mobile Network Operators (MNOs)
Claro
Kolbi
Movistar
Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)
Full Móvil
Tuyo Móvil
In February 2019 Millicom International Cellular S.A. announced it has entered into agreements with Telefónica S.A. to acquire the entire share capital of Telefónica de Costa Rica TC, S.A. (owner of Movistar).
Mobile data is a key part of all operators’ offer. 4G infrastructure has lagged behind other countries in the
Sources:
Millicom International Cellular S.A. (2019,02,20). Press Release: Millicom adds mobile to its cable footprint with acquisition of Telefónica’s operations in Panama, Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Retrieved from: https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/02/20/1738821/0/en/Millicom-adds-mobile-to-its-cable-footprint-with-acquisition-of-Telef%C3%B3nica-s-operations-in-Panama-Costa-Rica-and-Nicaragua.html
Office of the United States Trade Representative. CAFTA-DR (Dominican Republic-Central America FTA), Chapter 13, Telecommunications. Retrieved on 2019,03,02 from https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/agreements/cafta/asset_upload_file498_3933.pdf