2.9 percent cubans internet access- The last official report on the website of the National Statistics Office, there were 1.6 million internet users in Cuba in 2009, representing 14.2 percent of the population. 3 However, only 2.9 percent of Cubans access the internet regularly and 5.8 percent routinely use email. Most internet users are only able to connect to a government intranet rather than the internet proper. Some sources estimate that only 200,000 residents have access to the world wide web.4 Most individuals who are able to access internet face extremely slow connections, making the use of multimedia applications nearly impossible. In January 2010, the government announced that it had expanded the national bandwidth and achieved a 10 percent increase in international connectivity. According to official data, Cuba now has speeds of 209 megabits per second (Mbps) for downloading and 379 Mbps for uploading. 5 Cuba continues to blame the U.S. embargo for its connectivity problems, saying it must use a slow, costly satellite connection system and is limited in the space it can buy. But in 2009, in a move that eased some aspects of Washington's prolonged sanctions on trade with Cuba, President Barack Obama allowed U.S. telecommunications firms to enter into agreements to establish fiber optic cable and satellite telecommunication facilities linking the United States and Cuba and to enter into roaming agreements with Cuban providers. However, these high-speed connections are not available to regular users and officials also noted that the government's plans did not include fostering private
use of the internet. 6 Cuba's leaders reiterated their demand for a complete end to the embargo, and official media ignored this important change in the U.S. legal framework. The bilateral relationship was affected by another incident in 2009 that touched directly on the lack of open internet access in Cuba. On December 4, the Cuban authorities arrested an American independent contractor, Alan Gross, who was in the country to
set up individual satellite-based internet connections as part of a U.S. government–funded project.
The Cuban government maintains tight control over the sale and distribution of internet-related equipment. The sale of modems was banned in 2001, and the sale of computers and computer accessories to the public was banned in 2002. This policy changed in early 2008, when the government began allowing Cubans to buy personal computers, and individuals can now legally connect to an ISP with a government permit. However, this permit is granted only to certain people, mostly Cuban officials or "trusted journalists." High costs also put internet access beyond the reach of most of the population. A simple computer with a monitor averages around 722 convertible pesos (US$780) in retail outlets, or at least 550 convertible pesos (US$594) on the black market. 7 By comparison, the average monthly Cuban salary is approximately 16 convertible pesos (US$17).8 Computers are generally distributed by the state-run Copextel Corporation, which imports ICT equipment.
Approximately 31 percent of Cubans report having access to a computer, but 85 percent of those said that the computers were located at work or school.9 Cuba still has the lowest mobile-phone penetration rate in Latin America, but the number is rising fast. There were 443,000 active mobile-phone subscriptions in 2009, a huge increase since 2004 when that figure was approximately 75,400. An internet connection in a hotel costs between 6 and 12 convertible pesos per hour. 10 In part because family members frequently share a mobile phone, it is estimated that the total number of users currently exceeds one million.11 In another step to increase affordability, the state-owned telecommunications firm ETECSA announced a series of rate modifications in April 2010. The government eased restrictions on mobile-phone purchases in March 2008, and reduced the sign-up fee by more than half, though it still represents three months' wages for the average worker. 12 Per-minute rates for calls on prepaid accounts will be reduced from 0.65 convertible pesos to 0.45 convertible pesos, except for 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., when a 0.10 convertible peso rate will apply. Also, international long-distance rates will fall, for both mobile and fixed-line accounts, by between 42 and 75 percent. Calls to the Western Hemisphere will now cost 1.60 convertible pesos per minute, except for the United States (1.85) and Venezuela (1.40), and calls to the rest of the world will be 1.80 per minute.13
In addition, a scheme will be introduced whereby either the caller or
the call recipient will be able to indicate that they will pay the
entire charge for a call. Ordinarily, both parties to a call pay 0.45
convertible pesos per minute, but under the new scheme, the party taking
on the whole charge will pay 0.60 convertible pesos per minute.
Activation fees for new accounts have fallen from 120 to 60 to 40
convertible pesos. Cuba has roaming agreements with 306 carriers in 128
countries, and 2.2 million people used those services in Cuba in 2010.14
The island's mobile network already covers 70 percent of Cuban
territory, and further expansions are planned.15
In November 2010, after a series of delays, the government announced
that the fiber-optic cable being installed between Cuba, Venezuela, and
Jamaica to improve the island's internet connection would become
available in January 2011. When the cable becomes fully functional, it
is expected to dramatically improve the internet speed on the island and
make it easier to access multimedia content. However, it is unlikely
that the cable will enable significant network expansion and bring the
internet to a greater number of Cubans. Most mobile phones do not
include internet connections, but it is possible to send and receive
international text messages and photographs with certain phones. 16
The government divides access to web technology between the national
intranet and the global internet. Most Cubans only have access to the
former, which consists of a national e-mail system, a Cuban
encyclopedia, a pool of educational materials and open-access journals,
Cuban websites, and foreign websites that are supportive of the Cuban
government. 17 Cubans can legally access the internet only through
government-approved institutions, such as the approximately 600 Joven
Clubs de Computación (Youth Computer Clubs) and points of access run by
ETECSA.18
In June 2009, the government adopted a new law (Resolution No. 99/2009)
allowing the Cuban Postal Service, which is controlled under the domain
of the Ministry of Computers and Communications, to establish cybercafes
at its premises and offer internet access to the public. Users are
generally required to present identification to use computers at these
sites. Many neighborhoods in the main cities of Havana and Santiago
advertise "internet" access in ETECSA kiosks, but field research has
found that the kiosks often lack computers, instead offering public
phones for local and international calls with prepaid phone cards. The
government also claims that all schools have computer laboratories,
while in practice internet access is usually prohibited for students or
limited to e-mail and supervised activities on the national intranet.19
However, home connections are not yet allowed for the vast majority of
Cubans and only those favored by the government are able to access the
internet from their own homes.
One segment of the population that enjoys approved access to the
internet is the professional class of doctors, professors, and
government officials. Facilities like hospitals, polyclinics, research
institutions, and local doctors' offices are linked by an online network
called Infomed. However, even these users are typically restricted to
e-mail and sites related to their occupations. Beginning in 2007, the
government systematically blocked core internet portal sites such as
Yahoo!, MSN, and Hotmail. This ban was extended to blog platforms and
blog commentary technology during certain periods in 2008. As a result,
Cubans cannot access blogs written by their fellow citizens. Moreover,
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) remains blocked in Cuba, with the
exception of unauthorized points of connection in old Havana. Some
social-networking platforms such as Facebook and Twitter are accessible
in university cybercafes and other location, although with varying
consistency.
There are only two ISPs, CENIAI Internet and ETECSA, and both are owned
by the state. Cubacel, a subsidiary of ETECSA, is the only mobile-phone
carrier. In 2000, the Ministry of Information Science and Communication
was created to serve as the regulatory authority for the internet, and
its Cuban Supervision and Control Agency oversees the development of
internet-related technologies.20
use of the internet. 6 Cuba's leaders reiterated their demand for a complete end to the embargo, and official media ignored this important change in the U.S. legal framework. The bilateral relationship was affected by another incident in 2009 that touched directly on the lack of open internet access in Cuba. On December 4, the Cuban authorities arrested an American independent contractor, Alan Gross, who was in the country to
set up individual satellite-based internet connections as part of a U.S. government–funded project.
The Cuban government maintains tight control over the sale and distribution of internet-related equipment. The sale of modems was banned in 2001, and the sale of computers and computer accessories to the public was banned in 2002. This policy changed in early 2008, when the government began allowing Cubans to buy personal computers, and individuals can now legally connect to an ISP with a government permit. However, this permit is granted only to certain people, mostly Cuban officials or "trusted journalists." High costs also put internet access beyond the reach of most of the population. A simple computer with a monitor averages around 722 convertible pesos (US$780) in retail outlets, or at least 550 convertible pesos (US$594) on the black market. 7 By comparison, the average monthly Cuban salary is approximately 16 convertible pesos (US$17).8 Computers are generally distributed by the state-run Copextel Corporation, which imports ICT equipment.
Approximately 31 percent of Cubans report having access to a computer, but 85 percent of those said that the computers were located at work or school.9 Cuba still has the lowest mobile-phone penetration rate in Latin America, but the number is rising fast. There were 443,000 active mobile-phone subscriptions in 2009, a huge increase since 2004 when that figure was approximately 75,400. An internet connection in a hotel costs between 6 and 12 convertible pesos per hour. 10 In part because family members frequently share a mobile phone, it is estimated that the total number of users currently exceeds one million.11 In another step to increase affordability, the state-owned telecommunications firm ETECSA announced a series of rate modifications in April 2010. The government eased restrictions on mobile-phone purchases in March 2008, and reduced the sign-up fee by more than half, though it still represents three months' wages for the average worker. 12 Per-minute rates for calls on prepaid accounts will be reduced from 0.65 convertible pesos to 0.45 convertible pesos, except for 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., when a 0.10 convertible peso rate will apply. Also, international long-distance rates will fall, for both mobile and fixed-line accounts, by between 42 and 75 percent. Calls to the Western Hemisphere will now cost 1.60 convertible pesos per minute, except for the United States (1.85) and Venezuela (1.40), and calls to the rest of the world will be 1.80 per minute.13
In addition, a scheme will be introduced whereby either the caller or
the call recipient will be able to indicate that they will pay the
entire charge for a call. Ordinarily, both parties to a call pay 0.45
convertible pesos per minute, but under the new scheme, the party taking
on the whole charge will pay 0.60 convertible pesos per minute.
Activation fees for new accounts have fallen from 120 to 60 to 40
convertible pesos. Cuba has roaming agreements with 306 carriers in 128
countries, and 2.2 million people used those services in Cuba in 2010.14
The island's mobile network already covers 70 percent of Cuban
territory, and further expansions are planned.15
In November 2010, after a series of delays, the government announced
that the fiber-optic cable being installed between Cuba, Venezuela, and
Jamaica to improve the island's internet connection would become
available in January 2011. When the cable becomes fully functional, it
is expected to dramatically improve the internet speed on the island and
make it easier to access multimedia content. However, it is unlikely
that the cable will enable significant network expansion and bring the
internet to a greater number of Cubans. Most mobile phones do not
include internet connections, but it is possible to send and receive
international text messages and photographs with certain phones. 16
The government divides access to web technology between the national
intranet and the global internet. Most Cubans only have access to the
former, which consists of a national e-mail system, a Cuban
encyclopedia, a pool of educational materials and open-access journals,
Cuban websites, and foreign websites that are supportive of the Cuban
government. 17 Cubans can legally access the internet only through
government-approved institutions, such as the approximately 600 Joven
Clubs de Computación (Youth Computer Clubs) and points of access run by
ETECSA.18
In June 2009, the government adopted a new law (Resolution No. 99/2009)
allowing the Cuban Postal Service, which is controlled under the domain
of the Ministry of Computers and Communications, to establish cybercafes
at its premises and offer internet access to the public. Users are
generally required to present identification to use computers at these
sites. Many neighborhoods in the main cities of Havana and Santiago
advertise "internet" access in ETECSA kiosks, but field research has
found that the kiosks often lack computers, instead offering public
phones for local and international calls with prepaid phone cards. The
government also claims that all schools have computer laboratories,
while in practice internet access is usually prohibited for students or
limited to e-mail and supervised activities on the national intranet.19
However, home connections are not yet allowed for the vast majority of
Cubans and only those favored by the government are able to access the
internet from their own homes.
One segment of the population that enjoys approved access to the
internet is the professional class of doctors, professors, and
government officials. Facilities like hospitals, polyclinics, research
institutions, and local doctors' offices are linked by an online network
called Infomed. However, even these users are typically restricted to
e-mail and sites related to their occupations. Beginning in 2007, the
government systematically blocked core internet portal sites such as
Yahoo!, MSN, and Hotmail. This ban was extended to blog platforms and
blog commentary technology during certain periods in 2008. As a result,
Cubans cannot access blogs written by their fellow citizens. Moreover,
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) remains blocked in Cuba, with the
exception of unauthorized points of connection in old Havana. Some
social-networking platforms such as Facebook and Twitter are accessible
in university cybercafes and other location, although with varying
consistency.
There are only two ISPs, CENIAI Internet and ETECSA, and both are owned
by the state. Cubacel, a subsidiary of ETECSA, is the only mobile-phone
carrier. In 2000, the Ministry of Information Science and Communication
was created to serve as the regulatory authority for the internet, and
its Cuban Supervision and Control Agency oversees the development of
internet-related technologies.20
