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The Telecommunications Company of Cuba (ETECSA) announced that on the morning of August 29, between 00:00 and 06:00 a.m., the mobile phone service will be partially or totally interrupted for millions of users, as part of what it describes as “technical modernization work.”
According to the official announcement, during those six hours, “a technological change will be implemented on the platform that hosts 67% of the country's mobile services.”
The affected lines will be those whose numbers begin with: 500, 501, 502, 503, 504, 509, 51, 52, 55, 56, 58, 59, and 62.
Millions of users disconnected during the night
ETECSA has assured that the disruption is necessary to "strengthen the telecommunications infrastructure", and that the upgrade will allow for the processing of requests such as line changes, ownership transfers, and supplementary services (call forwarding, voicemail, etc.).
It was also indicated that users of Alternative Fixed Telephony (TFA) will be affected, although no specific figures or territories were provided.
As is customary in this type of announcement, no guarantees were provided for noticeable service improvement, nor any compensations to users for the announced outage.
Instead, the company expressed gratitude for the understanding and requested that citizens stay informed through its official channels.
Modernization, cuts, and foreign currency: Who foots the bill?
This announcement comes less than three months after ETECSA's CEO, Tania Velázquez, defended the massive increase in phone and internet rates, describing it as a necessary step to sustain the company's technological infrastructure:
"The ETECSA systems are in a delicate situation. It is necessary to inject foreign currency," he justified at that moment.
The official claimed that the country does not have the resources to maintain current services, let alone to make progress.
"We're not even talking about development; we're talking about maintaining the services we have," he said amid a strong social backlash.
More revenue, same problems
Despite the official justification, recent figures contradict part of the government’s narrative. As revealed by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero in the National Assembly, ETECSA collected over 24 million dollars in just 46 days following the tariff hike, which equates to more than half a million dollars daily.
However, this revenue, although high, does not reach the levels prior to the price increase, suggesting that the fare hike has not guaranteed the promised "development," nor has it stopped the interruptions or complaints about the deterioration of service.
Meanwhile, the Government deepens the dollarization of the system: it prioritizes top-ups in USD, imposes fees in freely convertible currency, and restricts plans in the national currency.
A framework that has been criticized by various sectors of society as a model of "communication by castes," where only those who receive remittances or have access to foreign currency can remain connected.
Modernization or a temporary fix?
Although ETECSA insists that these technical works will enable better management of procedures—such as restoring lost lines or activating supplementary functions—the company's history raises doubts. Previous upgrades have resulted in more interruptions, congestion, and a service that is far from improving its actual quality.
The scheduled interruption on August 29 raises a critical question once again: Can a company that increases prices, collects millions, and continues to cut services justify its actions in the name of "modernization"?
For now, most Cubans will continue to pay a high price for limited service, with scheduled or sudden outages, without options for competition or effective channels for complaints.
Frequently asked questions about the impacts and measures of ETECSA in Cuba
Why will ETECSA interrupt mobile phone service on August 29, 2025?
ETECSA has announced that it will interrupt mobile phone service in the early morning of August 29 to carry out "technical modernization work." This interruption will affect 67% of the country's mobile services and will take place between 12:00 AM and 6:00 AM. The company justifies this measure as necessary to strengthen telecommunications infrastructure and improve the management of procedures and complementary services.
Which mobile lines will be affected by the interruption of ETECSA's service?
Mobile lines whose numbers begin with the prefixes: 500, 501, 502, 503, 504, 509, 51, 52, 55, 56, 58, 59, and 62 will be affected by the service interruption announced by ETECSA. The company assures that these cuts are necessary to improve the infrastructure and services, although no details have been provided regarding noticeable improvements for users.
What justifications has ETECSA provided for the recent rate increase?
The president of ETECSA, Tania Velázquez, has defended the increase in rates as a necessity to inject foreign currency and sustain the company's technological infrastructure. She argues that ETECSA is facing significant indebtedness and that it is crucial to secure revenues to maintain current services. Despite high revenue collection, the rate increase has not ensured an improvement in service, which has caused dissatisfaction and criticism among the public.
How does the dollarization of ETECSA services affect Cuban users?
The dollarization of ETECSA services has been criticized by broad sectors of Cuban society, as it prioritizes top-ups in USD and limits plans in national currency, which has been perceived as a form of "communication by castes." This measure excludes those who do not receive remittances or have access to foreign currency, deepening economic inequality and access to essential services such as internet connectivity.
What criticisms has ETECSA received for its management of telecommunications in Cuba?
ETECSA has been subject to criticism for the poor quality of its services, high costs, and lack of transparency in the use of the revenues collected. Despite justifying the rate increases by claiming the need to modernize and maintain services, the company has been accused of perpetuating inequality by promoting a communication system that favors those with access to foreign currency, leaving many Cubans without adequate connectivity.
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