The state telecommunications monopoly, ETECSA, announced that a failure occurred in the mobile network systems, affecting the service across the country.
According to official information, a malfunction has been identified that is affecting voice and data services on certain numbers.
"Work is being done on the diagnosis to provide a solution. Stay updated through the company's official channels," specifies the post.
This new incident occurs less than 24 hours after the Territorial Division of ETESCA in Matanzas reported a malfunction in the generator at the Telecommunications Center of Unión de Reyes, due to an interruption in the electrical supply.
The information from the newspaper Girón detailed that fixed telephone services were affected in all the areas of that region, with the exception of Cidra, Bolondrón, and Güira de Macurijes, as well as Playa Girón, in Ciénaga de Zapata.
Data and mobile services were also affected in the municipalities of Unión de Reyes, Pedro Betancourt, Ciénaga de Zapata, and Jaguey Grande.
A month ago, the Deputy Director of the Operations Vice Presidency of ETESCA, Kevin Castro Rodríguez, admitted that they no longer have the foreign currency to maintain the pace of technological investments that was upheld until 2022.
"Our foreign currency sources of income have been severely impacted. What does that mean? It has become very difficult to continue with the investment plan we developed until 2022," Castro acknowledged, confirming what Cuban users endure daily: an increasingly congested, slow, and unstable network.
The executive justified the failures -both in landline and mobile phone services, as well as Internet- with a combination of factors: increased demand, lack of foreign currency, external interference caused by illegal antennas, and more recently, a wave of vandalism against telecommunications infrastructure.
In Havana alone, where there are 1.9 million mobile lines, 450,000 fixed lines, and over 68,000 Nauta Hogar services, 47 serious incidents were reported in 2024, with 10 cases occurring from the beginning of 2025 until mid-April.
According to ETECSA, the damages included cuts to fiber optic cables, theft of batteries, burning of poles, and destruction of towers, some of which were described as "counter-revolutionary acts."
But beyond the acts of vandalism, the company acknowledges that the economic model sustaining it is in crisis.
With declining foreign currency income sources, particularly due to the reduction of international top-ups and services in MLC, ETECSA has had to redirect resources and technical personnel not to advance, but to repair.
Pedro Luis Lozada Morales, director of the Southern Territorial Division, revealed that the planned investments for 2024 had to be halted to address the damages, further delaying the modernization of an already outdated network.
The quality of service is one of the most common complaints among Cuban users: constant interruptions, slow browsing speeds, issues with Transfermóvil, and an infrastructure that cannot keep up with the increasing number of users and data consumption.
Although ETECSA insists on its commitment to "continuous improvement" and claims to be working in coordination with the Ministry of the Interior to protect its network, the reality is that the monopoly is undergoing an unprecedented crisis.
Without foreign currency, without investment, and under pressure, the state telecommunications giant is wobbling... and with it, the connectivity of an entire country.
Frequently Asked Questions about ETECSA Failures in Cuba
What problems is ETECSA currently facing with its services?
ETECSA is facing significant problems in its voice and data services due to failures in the mobile network, exacerbated by a lack of foreign currency, increased demand, interference from illegal equipment, and acts of vandalism. These situations have led to a network that is increasingly congested, slow, and unstable, affecting the quality of service for users in Cuba.
How is the economic crisis affecting ETECSA?
The economic crisis in Cuba has heavily impacted ETECSA, as the company has admitted to not having the necessary foreign currency to maintain the pace of technological investments that it was sustaining until 2022. This has led to the halting of investments and the need to redirect resources to repair damages instead of progressing in the modernization of its telecommunications infrastructure.
What are the causes of the deterioration of ETECSA's service?
The deterioration of ETECSA's service is due to a combination of factors such as the increase in demand, the use of illegal antennas that interfere with the signal, and acts of vandalism against the infrastructure. Moreover, the lack of foreign currency has limited the company's ability to invest in technological improvements, which has exacerbated connectivity issues across the country.
What measures is ETECSA taking to address the issues with its services?
ETECSA is working on diagnosing the failures to find solutions, although it faces significant limitations due to a lack of financial resources. The company insists on its commitment to continuous improvement and is collaborating with the Ministry of Interior to protect its telecommunications infrastructure. However, the economic crisis and acts of vandalism continue to be major obstacles to the complete restoration of its services.
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