- Title: Internet laggard Cuba plans to bring web to Havana homes by year-end
- Date: 26th October 2016
- Summary: HAVANA, CUBA (OCTOBER 25, 2016) (REUTERS) GENERAL VIEW OF PLAZA SIGN READING: "PLAZA VIEJA" ("OLD PLAZA") GENERAL VIEW OF PLAZA INTERNET RECEIVER VARIOUS OF YOUNG PERSON CONNECTED TO INTERNET ON HER PHONE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CUBAN, EMIS MASSA, SAYING: "I have to go to a hotel, to some place, to get it, etc, etc, to get this service because it is expensive. Or to simply sit on the sidewalk in the middle of the street with thousands of people there is a little uncomfortable. It seems to me that it would be a little more - it could be a little less complicated if I am in my house, with my family. I don't know. It would be different." GOVERNMENT BUILDING VARIOUS OF WOMAN WITH CELLPHONE IN HER HAND PEOPLE IN THE STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CUBAN PROFESSOR, JUNIOR REYES, SAYING: "It is a shame that what is being done now should have been done a long time ago. We were advancing, but well, it's never too late. Things always come." SIGN READING "WE ARE CUBA" WITH CUBAN FLAG YOUNG PERSON CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET CATHEDRAL
- Embargoed: 10th November 2016 01:28
- Keywords: web Wi-Fi Old Havana Cuban News Agency Raul Castro
- Location: HAVANA, CUBA
- City: HAVANA, CUBA
- Country: Cuba
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00155N3Z9F
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Cuba, a few decades late to the internet era, plans to bring the web into some households in Havana by the end of the year, the Cuban News Agency (ACN) reported on Tuesday (October 25).
Cuba has one of the lowest Internet penetration rates in the world. While the government blames cost for lack of investment in infrastructure, critics suggest the real impediment is fear of losing control of the media.
So far, only 5 percent of the Cuban population is estimated to enjoy home-based internet, which requires special government permission. Usually this is granted mainly to academics, doctors and intellectuals.
The rest of Cuba's 11.2 million inhabitants must rely on Wi-Fi hotspots around the island and state internet parlors, although these are sparsely used because of high rates. The $2 hourly Wi-Fi tariff represents nearly 10 percent of the average state monthly salary.
A pilot project will bring the web at first into homes of 2,000 residents in Old Havana, ACN reported, citing a senior official at telecommunications monopoly ETECSA.
One internet user had a hard time comprehending that.
"I have to go to a hotel, to some place, to get it, etc, etc, to get this service because it is expensive. Or to simply sit on the sidewalk in the middle of the street with thousands of people there is a little uncomfortable. It seems to me that it would be a little more - it could be a little less complicated if I am in my house, with my family. I don't know. It would be different," said Emis Massa.
The necessary infrastructure has already been installed by Chinese company Huawei, although rates have not yet been decided, ACN reported ETECSA official Eudes Monier as saying.
ETECSA is also working on offering internet on mobile phones from 2017, ACN wrote.
"It is a shame that what is being done now should have been done a long time ago. We were advancing, but well, it's never too late. Things always come," said professor, Junior Reyes.
Cuba currently has around 200 Wi-Fi hotspots nationwide and in September announced it would install Wi-Fi along Havana's picturesque seafront boulevard, the Malecon.
The United States has set connectivity as a priority in its new relationship with Cuba. Telecommunications equipment, technology and services were among the first exemptions to the embargo after Washington and Havana announced on Dec. 17 they would restore diplomatic relations.
Cuba has meanwhile repeatedly charged that the United States wants to use telecommunications to subvert its government. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
