The state company ETECSA –and with it the regime– is back at the center of popular discontent in Cuba after announcing a change in the mobile recharge rules, which practically restricts the use of the Cuban peso (CUP) and prioritizes packages purchased from abroad in dollars.
The so-called "tarifazo" means that many of the offers that could previously be purchased from Cuba will now only be available to those who have access to foreign currency sent from outside the country.
The measure was defended on national television by the president of ETECSA, Tania Velázquez, who attempted to justify the price increase and the restructuring of the system, citing operational difficulties, financial problems, and fraud in national top-ups.
However, their arguments did not convince a significant part of the population, and the rejection has been strongly felt both in the streets and on social media.
As is tradition in Cuba, where humor serves as a safety valve and a form of protest, the memes quickly followed.
Users from all over have flooded social media with mockeries, parodies, and satirical messages that capture, more clearly than many reports, the widespread outrage over the digital price hike.
Pablo Toirac shared on Facebook one of the most clever memes from this wave of criticism, featuring none other than the legendary Cuban cartoon character Elpidio Valdés.
In the clip, based on a scene where the Spaniards attempt to intercept the location of the mambista troops via telegraph, communication fails... and they must activate "airplane mode" to continue reporting.
The result is a brilliant parody of the quality of communications in Cuba under ETECSA's monopoly, amidst a context of unaffordable rates and precarious connectivity.
The title sums it all up with irony: "Sending a message with ETECSA's signal."
From the Cuba Crige profile on Facebook, another meme mixing images of young Cuban soldiers dancing amidst a great mess with overlaid texts that satirize the current economic context.
The production features the main phrase: “USD will rain down,” and immediately connects that idea to the workers of ETECSA, making a direct reference to the dollarization of telecommunications services.
The video creates a visual interplay between the dancing soldiers and the phrase: “Meanwhile, those at ETECSA,” suggesting that the company—state monopoly on communications—acts as a direct extension of the military and political apparatus of the regime, profiting from the remittances sent in dollars from abroad.
The implicit criticism goes beyond the rate hike: it questions ETECSA's structural role as part of the power machinery, more concerned with foreign currency than with ensuring accessible and quality service for ordinary Cubans.
The Habanero Memes profile published an extensive and sharp compilation that humorously voices the everyday concerns of Cubans following the rate hikes by ETECSA.
Memes, oscillating between direct criticism and insinuation, address everything from the possibility that the Nauta Hogar service could be the next to be dollarized, to the fear that even electricity may follow the same model that prioritizes remittances from abroad.
In one of the most shared memes, it is suggested that ETECSA "doesn't care at all about the lives of Cubans," while others portray a technological regression where users, facing high prices, will revert to communicating through alternative messaging services like ToDus or Sijú.
Another meme directly connects the new prices of the data package—such as 11,760 CUP for 15 GB—with the minimum pension of retired Cubans, which barely reaches 1,500 CUP, in a stark comparison that clearly shows who is automatically excluded from digital access on the island.
The collection of Habanero Memes has been celebrated on social media for its wit and for capturing in a clear, raw, and humorous way an outrage that spans generations, especially when it comes to connecting in a country where it is treated as a luxury.
The Asere Memes profile also joined the critical wave against ETECSA's price hike with a series of posts that, through dark humor and exaggeration, manage to convey the economic absurdity faced by Cubans trying to connect to the Internet.
In one of the memes, an Arab sheikh appears saying, “Someday I will have money to go to Cuba and buy the 35 GB data package,” in a hyperbole that illustrates how current prices have turned connectivity into an international luxury.
Another meme sarcastically poses the question: "Serious question, how many gigabytes do you think they'll give me for a kidney?" referencing the extreme financial sacrifice involved in paying for current data packages.
And perhaps the most biting of all is the one that says: “I remember my grandfather always telling me to be careful of bad company, but what can I do if here there is only UNE and ETECSA?” It is a direct critique of the monopolistic nature of the Cuban system, where basic services such as electricity and connectivity are controlled by sole entities with no competition or real alternatives.
Asere Memes, like many others, function as a social X-ray and a release valve: they transform frustration into laughter, and laughter into protest.
Frequently Asked Questions about ETECSA's Rate Hike in Cuba and Its Impact
What is the "tarifazo" of ETECSA and how does it affect Cubans?
ETECSA's "rate hike" is a measure that severely restricts the use of the Cuban peso (CUP) for mobile top-ups and prioritizes packages purchased from abroad in dollars. This means that many offers that could previously be purchased from Cuba are now only available to those who have access to foreign currency sent from outside the country. The measure has generated widespread opposition, as it excludes millions of Cubans who do not have access to dollars or remittances.
Why has ETECSA implemented these new rates?
According to the president of ETECSA, Tania Velázquez, the new rates aim to respond to a market outside of Cuba that wishes to communicate with their family members, and are necessary due to financial and operational issues, as well as fraud in national recharges. However, these justifications have not convinced a large part of the population, who perceive the measure as another step towards the dollarization of basic services on the island.
What are the new prices for data packages in Cuba?
The new prices for data packages in Cuba are significantly higher. A 15 GB plan costs 11,760 CUP, while national top-ups in local currency have been restricted to 360 CUP every 30 days. Additionally, packages priced in dollars of 10, 20, and 35 USD are being promoted, available only to those receiving remittances or with access to foreign currency.
What criticisms have arisen regarding the dollarization of ETECSA's services?
The measure taken by ETECSA has been criticized for perpetuating inequality and being seen as a form of "communication through castes," where only those who receive support from abroad can remain connected. Many users on social media have labeled the measures as "armed robbery", and have expressed that the new CUP plans exceed even the monthly minimum wage on the island. The criticism focuses on the fact that ETECSA acts more like an appendage of the military and political apparatus of the regime than as a company dedicated to ensuring accessible and quality service for Cubans.
How has the Cuban population reacted to the ETECSA rate hike?
The Cuban population has reacted with indignation and criticism on social media, using humor as a means of protest. Memes and satirical comments have flooded the networks, reflecting widespread discontent over the unaffordable rates and poor connectivity. Additionally, some Cubans abroad are proposing a "total halt" on top-ups as a form of protest against the regime, while many within the country feel that the measure is an abuse that exacerbates inequality.
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