• Cubans will not have to travel to centralized public sites for connection anymore
   
• Mobile phones in Cuba have access to 3G connectivity since December

Cuba has extended internet access to citizens countrywide while trying to control and defend its legitimacy. Vice-minister of communications, Ernesto Rodriguez Hernandez said that Cubans will be supporting and defending the revolution in every aspect, both in the virtual and the real worlds. He believes internet and social media are mere tools to position Cuba’s truth and not manipulate information.

Reportedly, one of the least connected countries in the world, Cuba as a telecommunications sector has shown massive changes over the past few years. Mobile phones got 3G connectivity since December and witnessed active community spring up on social media networks online, who frequently questioned about challenges faced by people in their daily lives in the island.

Routers have been now allowed to be imported into Cuba, people are registering equipment and private Wi-Fi networks have been established, connected to signals from ETECSA, the state controlled operator. Cubans do not have to travel to centralized public sites for connection anymore.

Hernandez continued that the country’s prime objective was to be providing wider internet access to the people across the country. Certain technical requirements laid down by the new legislation may put an end to the informal networks that was created by a group of residents earlier. Such a control could supposedly be called the sovereign right of the Cuban state.

Apparently, the connection will not be cheap, costing US$1 per hour, a big amount where the average salary in a month is around US$50. The lowest 3G rate for 600 megabytes will be US$7. The cost of internet has reduced by four factors since it came in 2013 and it will reportedly continue to drop as the infrastructure for communications improve over time.

Nearly 1,400 Wi-Fi hotspots have been deployed with around 80,000 homes who now have access to internet and a 3G connectivity is accessible to 2.5 million people in Cuba.

Source credit- https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/technology/cuba-expands-internet-access-but-at-a-price