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Cuban musician Giraldo Piloto has expressed his strong rejection of the recent measures taken by the Telecommunications Company (ETECSA), which limits top-ups in national currency and only offers mobile data plans in US dollars.
On his account on Facebook, Piloto denounced what he considers a "shame," while emphasizing that the measure directly impacts family, education, and access to uncensored Internet.
"What ETECSA is doing in Cuba is shameful," said the artist, who recalled that there have been other political and economic disasters in the past.
He also reflected on the implications of the measure for access to information and freedom of expression, as it intrudes on the most sensitive fibers of the family, "and the only vehicle the country has to 'navigate' alongside the world without censorship or intimidation."
"The young people will never forgive him!" he concluded.
ETECSA's decision, set against a backdrop of increasing dollarization of the Cuban economy, has sparked a wave of criticism on social media.
The measure restricts citizens to recharging only 360 CUP per month, an amount insufficient to meet basic mobile data needs. To access larger data allowances, users must pay in dollars or turn to foreign platforms, which excludes the majority of Cubans who earn very low wages and have no access to foreign currency.
ETECSA justifies the measure by claiming the need to "sustain and develop the network," but many believe the company uses this excuse to hide the inefficiency of the service and the ongoing data outages. It is another step toward dollarization and the social exclusion of those who do not have access to strong currencies.
In a country where access to the Internet is essential for education, self-employment, and communication with family abroad, this decision represents a serious restriction on fundamental rights, especially among the younger population who feel particularly impacted by the lack of access to information and new opportunities.
Giraldo Piloto, who recently emigrated to the United States in search of better living conditions, has joined the critical voices of the exile community and has highlighted the severity of the situation in Cuba.
With a distinguished career in music, the conductor of the orchestra Klímax is no stranger to the difficulties faced by the Cuban people, and his statement reflects the growing frustration of many citizens regarding government policies that continue to distance the Island from a potential improvement in their living conditions.
The controversial measure by ETECSA reflects the ongoing political and economic crisis in Cuba, a country where restrictions on internet access and the increasing lack of freedoms remain a pressing issue.
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