CUJAE students stand up to ETECSA: They demand alternative solutions and respect for the Cuban people

The FEU and the UJC of the "José Antonio Echeverría" Technological University of Havana (CUJAE) strongly condemned this Tuesday the new provisions from the Cuban Telecommunications Company (ETECSA) announced yesterday, aimed at improving the connectivity of university students following the criticism of the restriction on recharges in Cuban pesos (CUP) to a maximum of 360 CUP within a 30-day period.

In a joint official statement issued on June 3rd, the Council of the University Student Federation (FEU) and the Committee of the Young Communist Union (UJC) not only called for alternative solutions to those offered but also demanded that ETECSA show more respect for the people.

"We reiterate our dissatisfaction and request other solutions that are more concrete in terms of time and inclusive. Additionally, we call for a more respectful attitude towards the population from the executives who speak publicly.", concludes what is just the first paragraph of the sharp and surprising statement from CUJAE.

University students demanded not only technical and economic corrections but also a change in attitude and tone from the representatives of the state-owned company, who -according to the text- have provided vague and repetitive explanations, failing to clearly address the actual impact on the public.

Specific criticisms of ETECSA's actions

The document accurately presents a series of arguments that support the rejection of the student community

■ Lack of technical rigor

"The graphs presented to justify the 'average consumption of 6GB' lack rigor: they do not show age groups or segmentation by needs."

■ Exclusive measures contrary to the socialist ideal

It was reported that the changes benefit only university students, neglecting teachers, researchers, healthcare workers, and other essential sectors

"It creates unacceptable inequalities in a socialist system."

Inconsistencies between discourse and practice

Although ETECSA insists on prioritizing key sectors for development, connectivity restrictions directly harm those who should benefit

"This restriction limits that goal, impacting students, scientists, and professionals."

■ Questions that remain unanswered

The students directly question the company:

"Why weren't alternatives such as bonds, schedules, or promotions implemented earlier to raise foreign currency without harming the population?"

"Is there no other alternative... that does not directly fall on the population?"

Lack of transparency and communication

"It is neither correct nor a revolutionary practice to wake up to news that requires immediate implementation without any capacity for reaction or preparation."

Moreover, they question the dollarization of services in relation to salaries in the national currency and report that the price of the packages "costs more than half of an average salary in the country," undermining digital inclusion.

Call for respect and self-criticism

The statement directly addresses ETECSA's attitude during its public appearances:

“The appearances have not lived up to the public demand. They have shown disrespectful attitudes,” stated the statement, which also emphasized the lack of empathy from the executives.

"Still, no executive has publicly explained it or acknowledged the mistake," they pointed out.

Clear and feasible proposals

Far from being limited to criticism, the FEU and the UJC of CUJAE presented a set of concrete proposals:

-Revision of the national recharge scheme, with student and citizen participation.

-Night bonuses (from 12 am to 5 am) intended for academic downloads.

- Plans segmented by use (for example, specific packages for WhatsApp or YouTube).

-Exchange with ETECSA executives at the university, coordinated by the Faculty of Telecommunications and Electronics.

-Expansion of benefits to other vulnerable sectors, including teachers and social workers.

Context of the statement

The statement originated after a broad meeting held at CUJAE, attended by representatives from various faculties, presidents of the FEU, secretaries of the UJC, the Union, and the PCC.

The session also featured the presence of provincial and national authorities from the Party, the UJC, the FEU, and the Union.

The goal was to hear firsthand the concerns of students and workers, channeling that collective sentiment into a public document that accurately reflected their position.

Final Statement: Firmness and Commitment

The text concluded with a call for genuine dialogue and the defense of collective well-being: “We urge ETECSA to amend its ways, engage in transparent dialogue, and act under the premise that ‘Revolution means changing everything that needs to be changed’.”

Furthermore, they warn against attempts at external manipulation and reaffirm their commitment to preserving peace within the university community.

"We will not allow our students and youth to be manipulated by malicious actions [...] We will also not allow the peace in the hallways of our University to be disrupted," they concluded.

ETECSA attempts to reassure students following the rate hike

Following the widespread backlash generated by the new rates imposed by ETECSA starting May 30, the state telecommunications company sought to quell the criticism, particularly among university students, with new measures announced on the official program Mesa Redonda.

The president of ETECSA, Tania Velázquez Rodríguez, announced that, as part of a strategy aimed at specific groups, university students will have the opportunity to purchase a second mobile data package of 6 GB, in addition to the one they can already buy with the 360 CUP allocated monthly for national recharges.

In total, this group will have access to 12 GB per month for a cost of 720 CUP.

This benefit will be available to students who are properly identified in ETECSA's database, as a result of a consumption study conducted on a sample of more than 60,000 university students.

Velázquez Rodríguez also announced that more than 40 educational sites are now free of charge and that efforts are underway with national organizations to continue expanding this list. The aim, according to the company, is to allow students to engage on academic platforms without using their mobile data.

However, such an outcome has not been well received by the students of CUJAE, as clearly expressed in the official statement from the FEU and the UJC of that prestigious institution.

Below we transcribe, in full, the OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF FEU-UJC CUJAE, signed by the FEU Council and the UJC Committee of the José Antonio Echeverría University of Technology – CUJAE.

June 3, 2025

In light of the announcements made during the Mesa Redonda on June 2, following the recent measures implemented by ETECSA, the University Student Federation (FEU) and the Union of Young Communists (UJC) of CUJAE, in representation of our students and youth, and in response to their demands to voice their concerns, we reiterate our dissatisfaction and request more specific and inclusive solutions. Additionally, we call for a more respectful stance from the executives who publicly express their opinions towards the population.

PRINCIPALES CRITERIOS

Lack of technical rigor in the explanations:

The graphs presented to justify the "average consumption of 6GB" lack rigor: they do not show age ranges or segmentation by needs.

Measures that violate essential principles:

Benefiting only university students excludes teachers, researchers, health workers, and a significant part of the population, which creates unacceptable inequalities in a socialist system. There was no clarity on how the proposed measures will be implemented or how these other sectors will be taken into account. While we can assume how to proceed, it is inconsistent not to provide an explanation.

Unnecessary repeated explanations:

We understand the harsh impact of the blockade and the pressing need for foreign currency, but: If the internet must "prioritize sectors that support the country's development," this restriction limits that objective, affecting students, scientists, and professionals, and serves as an impediment to the implementation of the digital transformation policy that the country approved a year ago.

We asked:

Why weren't alternatives like bonds, schedules, or promotions implemented earlier to raise foreign currency without harming the population?

Is there no other alternative in the country to prioritize the recovery of the company that does not directly impact the population?

Contradictions with the company:

It is not understood why the company, in light of the critical situation it describes and that we understand, is not involving the population or specific sectors to help clarify the measures being developed. Furthermore, no executive has publicly explained this or acknowledged the mistake.

Insufficient and exclusionary measures:

Expanding to 12GB for university students is a bureaucratic band-aid, not a solution. The decision made is not explained by the studies conducted.

It was not mentioned how it applies if the line is under the name of relatives.

There has not been transparency regarding the exchange rate used for the packages.

Showing a dollarized economy with salaries in CUP is economically regressive.

Family economy: Extra packages cost more than half of the average salary in the country. The price of internet in foreign currency threatens digital inclusion.

Resale of balance appears (visible on social media and WhatsApp groups).

Weak performance of national applications and limited prior exercise to make them appealing, as well as not being available for all terminals.

Transparency:

It is neither correct nor a revolutionary practice to wake up to news that requires immediate implementation, without any capacity for reaction or preparation. It is important to note that the announcement from the company the previous day was unclear. This procedure is highly disrespectful, and while it has been explained, we refuse to believe that it was the only alternative. Furthermore, the company has shown no empathy towards the population and has not acknowledged that its actions are inappropriate.

Promotion of popular discontent:

The appearances have not lived up to public demand. They have shown disrespectful stances. In the case of the latest one, the already known explanations were reiterated for over an hour, leaving the announced changes by the company for the last 10 minutes. More details were needed.

CONCRETE PROPOSALS FROM THE FEU-UJC

Reassess the national recharge limitation and design a new model with greater student and community participation.

Night bonuses (12am–5am) for academic downloads.

Segmented plans (e.g., specific GB for WhatsApp/YouTube/among others).

Conduct an exchange with company executives at our University, a space that is being coordinated through the Faculty of Telecommunications and Electronics.

Extending measures to teachers, professionals, and vulnerable sectors is not something distant; it is achievable.

FINAL STATEMENT

We urge ETECSA to rectify, engage in transparent dialogue, and act on the premise that "Revolution is changing everything that must be changed."

The CUJAE, true to its revolutionary tradition, will continue to seek unity and commitment. This statement aims to convey the feelings of those we represent. We are confident that dialogue and the representation of our organizations will be the way to channel our discontent.

We will not allow our students and youth to be manipulated by malicious actions that do not aim to defend the common good. We also will not permit disturbances to the tranquility of our University's halls.

We remain in constant communication with the university administration, the National Federation of University Students (FEU), the Young Communist League (UJC) at all levels, the Party, and the Government. We believe that this is the right path.

We remain attentive to the views of students and young people at the University and to their willingness to be active participants in the necessary solutions.

Council of the FEU and Committee of the UJC

José Antonio Echeverría Technological University of Havana CUJAE

Frequently asked questions about the student protest against ETECSA in Cuba