Two fires recently reported in the Havana municipality of San Miguel del Padrón caused severe disruptions to telecommunications services, leaving hundreds of customers without phone service or internet access in several communities in the eastern part of the capital.
According to the newspaper Tribuna de La Habana, one of the incidents occurred on the Pitirre road, right in front of the 1580 penitentiary, where the flames consumed nearly 200 meters of telephone wiring.
The head of the Cumbre Telecommunications Center, Juan Antonio Lewis Zumaquero, explained that the fire originated in nearby brush, allegedly due to the actions of "unscrupulous individuals."
The incident left over 200 customers in areas such as El Pitirre and the Cambute Transit Community without public telephone service, affecting both residences and state entities.
A second fire was reported in the Monterrey People's Council, where the accumulation of trash at the base of a pole, near the smart cabinet close to the Feria de la Cuevita, caused a fire that rendered that node completely inoperable.
According to the ETECSA executive, the fires disrupted all equipment outputs, affecting users in that area.
In response, the state-owned company announced several measures to prevent further damage, including modifying the cable route in the Pitirre area to distance it from vegetation and electrical poles, and constructing a masonry shelter to protect the damaged smart cabinet in Monterrey.
Although ETECSA attributed the fires to the actions of third parties, the events highlight the vulnerability of an infrastructure that is exposed to deterioration and lack of preventive maintenance, in a context where telecommunications services already face structural limitations.
In a country where many people still rely on public telephone services and where access to the internet is costly and limited, the disruption of these services directly impacts the daily lives of citizens.
Among the multiple fires that have jeopardized telecommunications infrastructure in Cuba in recent weeks, one of the first was reported last March in Guanabo, to the east of Havana.
The incident severely affected ETECSA's telecommunications network, leaving communities such as Boca Ciega, Peñas Altas, El Comino, and the center of Guanabo without access to the internet and fixed-line phone services.
A few days later, a similar fire was reported in the city of Pinar del Río, specifically at the intersection of Rafael Ferro and Máximo Gómez streets.
There, the flames caused partial interruptions in seven multi-pair copper cable sheaths and resulted in the loss of a wooden post, impacting several streets, including Hermanos Saiz University.
Subsequently, a fire was reported in an area adjacent to the 26 de Julio Clinical Surgical Hospital in Havana. Although there were no specified direct impacts on telecommunications services, the incident raised concerns among residents and patients due to the proximity of the flames to critical health facilities.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Fires in Havana and Their Effects on Telecommunications
What fires affected telecommunications services in Havana?
Two recent fires in the municipality of San Miguel del Padrón in Havana caused severe disruptions to telecommunications services. One of them occurred on Pitirre Road, affecting over 200 meters of telephone wiring, while the other happened in the Monterrey Popular Council, where a fire caused by trash impacted a telecommunications node.
What are the consequences of fires for the inhabitants of Havana?
The fires have left hundreds of customers in various communities in the east of Havana without phone and internet services. This affects both households and state entities, complicating daily life in a country where access to the internet is limited and expensive.
What measures has ETECSA taken to prevent similar incidents in the future?
ETECSA has announced the modification of the cable routes to move them away from vegetation and electrical poles. Additionally, they will build a masonry shelter to protect the smart cabinet in the affected area of Monterrey, as part of their preventive measures.
What is the general situation of telecommunications in Cuba in the current context?
The telecommunications infrastructure in Cuba is vulnerable and faces structural limitations. The situation is exacerbated by the lack of preventive maintenance, vandalism, and natural phenomena such as hurricanes, resulting in poor service quality and widespread dissatisfaction among the population.
What other issues have affected telecommunications in Cuba recently?
In addition to the fires, the theft of cables and acts of vandalism have disrupted telephone services in Havana. The company ETECSA also faces issues such as interference from illegal antennas and a lack of resources to replace damaged equipment, which further complicates the telecommunications situation on the island.
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