In light of ETECSA's recent decision to dollarize its main mobile internet services and drastically limit access in national currency, some dignified Cubans have decided to reject any top-ups from abroad.
The measure, which many consider an act of social exclusion and a form of economic blackmail, has been strongly criticized by both citizens on the Island and by Cubans in exile.
"I will not accept that they put a single peso in my name to ETECSA. I don't want top-ups. I want ETECSA to starve, even if I never use a cellphone again," asserted lawyer Manuel Viera on Facebook.
Viera described ETECSA as an "anti-people" company in an "anti-people" economy, designed exclusively for those who have access to dollars, while the average Cuban survives amid blackouts, shortages, and misery.
"We need a Cuba designed for the Cuban on the inside, the one who suffers and no longer wants to work," he stated.
For his part, the art critic Jorge de Mello announced his forced departure from social media, unable to afford the new prices imposed by the Cuban telecommunications monopoly.
"I refuse to ask my emigrated friends to pay a single dollar to an inefficient state company that practices digital pimping under the cover of a lack of freedoms," he wrote on Facebook.
For De Mello, the most alarming issue is not just the high cost of the service, but the "general blackout of justice and morality" that is imposed on Cuban society.
From exile: enough of being economic hostages
The outrage has also been felt among Cubans abroad.
The activist Saily González Velázquez proposed a "total shutdown" of remittances to the Island as a form of protest: "They extort us with food packages, hotels for leisure, and now mobile data for communication. Enough is enough."
González clarified that it is not about cutting humanitarian or family aid, but rather about directly pressuring the regime through its weak point: the fresh dollars that come in from remittances.
"Today there are recharges, but tomorrow they will start charging even for water in dollars. (...) And if we don't do something now, we too will be accomplices of digital apartheid, of the gag that this measure represents, and of the extreme inequality in Cuba," he emphasized.
A scam orchestrated from power
The new policy of ETECSA imposes a limit of 360 CUP monthly for national top-ups -equivalent to just a basic package of 6 GB- and offers "extra" packages only in dollars: 4 GB for 10 USD, 8 GB for 20 USD, and up to 16 GB for 35 USD.
The official justification mentions "maintaining and developing the network," but Cubans criticize the company's poor management and accuse it of having collected millions from international top-ups for years without investing anything in infrastructure.
"They collected millions of dollars from top-ups from abroad and didn't invest in anything. There was no improvement. Not in mobile phone services, not in landlines, nor in anything," stated a resident from Pinar del Río on social media.
A connection for the privileged
The access to the Internet in Cuba has become a luxury, a privilege reserved for those who receive remittances or can pay with international cards.
The new prices in CUP—such as 3 GB for 3,360 CUP or 15 GB for 11,760 CUP—amount to up to four times the monthly minimum wage on the Island, making the service unattainable for the majority.
In addition to the economic blow, many denounce the repressive nature of this measure. Limiting access to the Internet also restricts the right to information, digital work, education, and the ability to speak out.
"They think that now the 'mafia' in Miami is going to rush to reload the lines in Cuba just because you say so. You'll see that they're going to mess it up again," assured a freelancer.
Internet for everyone or for a select few?
While the government insists that these actions aim to maintain an expensive technological network, the reality is that connectivity is being de facto privatized in the hands of an elite with access to foreign currency. Digital access has become another front of Cuba's economic apartheid.
"The only thing they are doing is creating more disparity within Cuban society; the new wealthy are those who have family abroad or the few who have access to USD," stated a resident of Havana.
The discomfort grows. And with it, the feeling that not only is the Internet connection being sold, but also the dignity of a people who have less and less to lose.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Dollarization of ETECSA and its Impact in Cuba
Why has ETECSA decided to dollarize its internet services?
ETECSA has decided to dollarize its Internet services to attract more foreign currency and sustain and develop its telecommunications network. However, this decision has been widely criticized for being exclusionary and deepening the economic divide in Cuba, as many citizens do not have access to foreign currencies.
How do the new ETECSA rates affect Cubans who only have access to national currency?
The new rates from ETECSA severely restrict access to the Internet in national currency, allowing only top-ups of up to 360 CUP per month, which is barely enough for a basic data package. This leaves many Cubans without adequate access to connectivity services, impacting their right to information and communication.
What impact does the dollarization of ETECSA have on the economic gap in Cuba?
The dollarization of ETECSA deepens the economic and social divide in Cuba, as it makes access to the Internet a privilege for those who receive remittances or have access to foreign currency. This results in the massive exclusion of millions of citizens who rely solely on the Cuban peso.
What are the reactions of Cubans to these measures from ETECSA?
The reactions of Cubans have been one of outrage and rejection against these measures, expressing themselves both on the island and in exile. Many view the measure as economic blackmail and a form of digital apartheid that negatively impacts the majority of the population.
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