"We are aware": ETECSA promises solutions for doctors and students, but without a timeline

The Cuban regime staged a new chapter of cynicism by announcing a brutal increase in internet access fees, a measure that has left a large part of the population outside the digital environment.

However, the next day, the Executive President of ETECSA, Tania Velázquez Rodríguez, appeared on national television to assure that the state-owned company is "very aware" of the situation of the affected sectors, and that it is working on specific solutions for students, doctors, teachers, and other professionals, although without offering deadlines or specific details.

Velázquez made these statements during an interview with the pro-government journalist Lázaro Manuel Alonso, in which he attempted to justify the price increases by emphasizing the need to "sustain the service" and to "seek understanding and support" from the public.

According to the official, ETECSA has been holding a series of meetings with representatives from the Ministry of Higher Education for several weeks now to design "more suitable" connectivity schemes for students.

Among the alleged actions under consideration are programs for differentiated access, data repositories stored on local servers, and the use of platforms like CUBEDUCA, a state-run site that offers educational content and is, according to Velázquez, free and accessible for students and teachers.

However, he acknowledged that the site is seldom used and poorly promoted, which raises doubts about its real impact in an increasingly hostile internet access environment.

"We are indeed aware of the need that students have on various fronts to increase their connectivity," he acknowledged, but he quickly clarified that solutions will be implemented "as they materialize" and according to the country's infrastructural and technical capacities.

"We are working with various organizations to provide personalized responses," she added, without specifying which sectors will benefit or under what criteria.

In the case of doctors and other professionals, Velázquez noted that they recognize the importance of ensuring an adequate level of communication, although he again avoided discussing concrete measures.

He emphasized the need to take advantage of existing infrastructures, such as sites with free national browsing, and to develop storage and caching solutions that allow for the downloading of heavy materials without the need for constant connection to the international network.

However, these proposals are insufficient given the magnitude of the problem, especially in a country where universities, hospitals, and educational centers lack stable and affordable connectivity.

Velázquez announced that ETECSA could provide more details about these projects in its upcoming participation in the official space Mesa Redonda, but did not promise dates or present immediate implementation plans.

Meanwhile, the measure is already in effect and affects thousands of students, teachers, researchers, and healthcare professionals, many of whom rely on the internet for studying, working, or providing essential services.

ETECSA, the only legal provider of telecommunications services in Cuba, has faced years of criticism for its inefficiency, exorbitant prices, and lack of transparency, without any real signs of openness or modernization so far.

During the same television appearance in which she promised solutions for sensitive sectors such as students and doctors, the executive president of ETECSA also vaguely addressed the reasons behind the so-called "tarifazo."

She stated that the price increase “is necessary to sustain the country's technological infrastructure” and is part of a supposed strategy to keep the service operational.

In that intervention, the official admitted that the rates applied in the new scheme were not previously consulted or shared with the population, which reinforces the perception of unilateral decisions by the telecommunications monopoly.

Additionally, he acknowledged that ETECSA did not take into account the economic access disparities between different social groups, merely justifying the increase as an "inevitable" measure given the current conditions in the country.

On the other hand, Velázquez publicly acknowledged failures in the institutional communication of ETECSA with its users, admitting that many of the complaints stem from a lack of clarity and the slow response to citizens' demands.

Although he assured that they are working to "improve feedback channels," he did not present timelines or concrete tools to address these deficiencies.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Increase in Internet Rates in Cuba