Cuba expands mobile Internet access to boost the economy and defend the revolution



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Stimulate the growth of the economy and defend the revolution. Miguel Diaz-Canel, the current president of Cuba, wants to achieve with the launch of the mobile Internet service that is supposed to cover the entire country's territory by the end of 2018. The measure, perceived as a signal the opening of the one-party communist regime since, until 2013, access to the web was only available in some hotels exclusively reserved for tourists, it is realized with certain segments of the previously selected public.

According to Reuters, the first group of citizens granted access to the mobile Internet, a service that is provided by a public company that holds the monopoly of the sector. "It was a radical change," he told the agency Yuris Norido. "I can now keep up with news wherever I am, including news," the journalist adds.

Some companies, as well as embassies, have also had access to the service since. Last December, analysts believe that the expansion of the mobile Internet will weaken the regime's long-term control over the Cuban population. The service, according to ETECSA, the company that provides it exclusively, will be available to five million consumers with mobile phones, a number that corresponds to half of the Cuban population.

Despite the optimistic goals announced, there are those who access the Internet with skepticism. Last year, only 11,000 homes were connected to the Internet, according to ETECSA data, although long-term goals indicate the connection of 60% of phones and half of homes to the Internet. here to 2020.

Yuneisy Galindo said Reuters was repeatedly moved to a telecom store to rent home Internet access, but was told that it was not possible under the promise that he would be contacted later.

mobile phones, one of the obstacles to expansion may be the price of the service. In a country where the average salary is about $ 30, ETECSA charges businesses and embassies $ 45 a month for the mobile Internet, with four gigabytes of traffic included.

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