Tania Velázquez Rodríguez, the executive president of Cuba's telecommunications monopoly (ETECSA), will appear on television this Sunday following the controversy sparked by the new set of measures that severely limits the use of the Cuban peso (CUP) for mobile top-ups and instead promotes data packages priced in US dollars.
The official media outlet Cubadebate announced that, in light of the "doubts and multiple opinions" from the public, Velázquez will appear this Sunday night on Cuban television and in a broadcast with Radio Rebelde following the Evening News.
The regime's spokesperson Lázaro Manuel Alonso announced on Facebook that the "conversation" will take place due to the doubts, dissatisfaction, criticisms and "states of opinion" generated by the recent measures of ETECSA.
He also stated that they will seek answers to several of the topics on which the public has expressed opinions on social media, as communicated by Alonso on Facebook.
ETECSA has limited top-ups in Cuban pesos (CUP) to a maximum of 360 over a 30-day period, forcing users to purchase larger data packages in US dollars (USD) or at excessive costs in CUP. This measure has sparked criticism for excluding those who do not have access to foreign currencies.
Cubans who do not have access to dollars and cannot afford an additional 3GB for over 3,000 CUP can only purchase a 6 GB package for 360 CUP monthly, which is insufficient for daily internet needs. This deepens inequality and limits connectivity for a large portion of the population.
This Friday, in the official space of the Mesa Redonda, the president of ETECSA and another official denied that the measure aimed to dollarize the economy but acknowledged that they were taking advantage of Cuban emigrants to collect dollars.
"Regarding dollarization, we have had the concept of international top-ups for over 15 years, which has been well leveraged by a significant percentage of our customer base. With those attractive promotions, it is also possible to achieve, let's say, interesting consumption. Therefore, the concept of dollarization is a necessity today in some sectors," he admitted on television.
In his opinion, the "market" of Cuban emigrants is an attractive one for generating foreign currency. "We are also taking advantage of the opportunities that we can capture today. There is a market outside of Cuba that is also interested in keeping their families connected and we are evidently offering our services regarding this, he said, insisting that the rates in CUP remain unchanged.
The new ETECSA scheme separates the national balance from that resulting from international top-ups, prioritizing access to services in dollars.
Through Transfermóvil, it will only be possible to deposit 360 pesos per month, which represents a drastic limitation for thousands of Cuban users who do not receive remittances or top-ups from abroad.
When the balance runs out, they will have to choose between high costs in local currency or reloads in USD from abroad.
Frequently Asked Questions about ETECSA's Rate Hike and Its Implications
What are the new measures adopted by ETECSA?
ETECSA has limited top-ups in Cuban pesos (CUP) to 360 per month and is promoting new data packages in United States dollars (USD). This measure forces users who need more data to purchase additional packages in dollars, excluding those who do not have access to foreign currency.
What justifications has ETECSA provided for these new rates?
ETECSA has argued that the new rates are necessary to "develop and sustain the telecommunications service network." However, the measure has been criticized for deepening economic inequality and limiting internet access, especially for those who do not receive remittances or do not have access to dollars.
How does this measure affect Cubans who do not have access to dollars?
For Cubans without access to dollars, the new measures severely restrict their ability to connect to the internet. They will only be able to recharge up to 360 CUP per month, which barely allows them to purchase 6 GB of data, insufficient for many basic daily needs.
What has been the public's reaction to ETECSA's price hike?
The measure has generated a wave of outrage and criticism both on social media and within state-run media, where the public has expressed its frustration over what they perceive as massive exclusion and a move toward the dollarization of mobile services in Cuba.
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