Amid the controversy generated by the recent increase in mobile service rates by ETECSA, the telecommunications monopoly in Cuba announced that it will soon implement a new mode of Internet access from homes, although without providing specific details about its operation or rates.
The commercial vice president of the state company, Lidia Esther Hidalgo, announced this Monday on the program Mesa Redonda that "during the summer we will announce a new optional modality," referring to the Nauta Hogar service, one of the most criticized by users due to its prices and technical limitations, reported the agency Prensa Latina.
This service allows connections from homes using ADSL technology, with plans that vary based on the number of contracted hours.
However, the brief announcement has raised concerns among the population, as the recent increase in the cost of mobile data access will lead many to rely more on the Nauta Hogar service for connectivity, which has sparked fears of new restrictions or price hikes in this system.
According to Hidalgo, the new offering will aim to adapt to the different consumer profiles of customers, a statement that, considering how unpopular the recent changes have been, generates skepticism and little trust among users.
“Some exhaust the available hours, while others do not. We are going to propose an offer that seems quite interesting to us,” he said.
Although she did not reveal details about prices or technical conditions, the official assured that users will be able to choose from options more aligned with their consumption, and that “those who cannot use their hours will have the possibility of continuing to accumulate them.”
This latest measure is a belated response to a long-standing demand from customers that has been ignored for years, and only now does it seem to be addressed as the company faces increasing public scrutiny and pressure from civil society.
The announcement comes amidst growing discontent among the population over recent changes to mobile plans and top-ups, seen as a "digital rate hike."
In recent weeks, students, citizens, and organizations have strongly criticized ETECSA's pricing policy and its impact on access to the Internet, which is increasingly regarded as an essential service amid the crisis.
This Monday, also on the Mesa Redonda, the executive president of ETECSA, Tania Velázquez Rodríguez, publicly acknowledged that the operational sustainability of telecommunications services on the Island depends almost entirely on the money contributed by emigrant Cubans through international top-ups.
Additionally, he explained that this revenue has been crucial for financing everything from technology acquisition to the connectivity of state institutions.
According to his words, the recharges sent from abroad "have been functioning for more than 15 years" and represent "80% of the international income" that the company receives.
He added that this is a widespread practice around the world, but in the case of Cuba, it has taken on a vital dimension: “These services that today somehow consume those high capacities... we need to seek sources for their recovery,” he said.
However, this economic dependency comes at a time when ETECSA has also been repeatedly pointed out for its collaboration with the regime's repressive mechanisms.
The regime, in an effort to ease some of the criticism, announced this Monday that university students will have the option to purchase a second mobile data package of 6 GB, in addition to the one they can already buy with the 360 CUP allocated monthly for national top-ups. In total, this group will have access to 12 GB per month for a cost of 720 CUP.
However, the University Student Federation (FEU) and the Young Communists Union (UJC) of the José Antonio Echeverría Technological University (CUJAE) strongly condemned these new regulations from ETECSA on Tuesday.
In a joint official statement issued on June 3rd, the FEU Council and the UJC Committee not only called for different solutions than those offered, but also demanded more respect from ETECSA towards the people.
Frequently Asked Questions about Changes in Internet Access in Cuba
What changes has ETECSA announced for Internet access from homes in Cuba?
ETECSA has announced a new option for Internet access from homes, which will be optional and is expected to cater to the different consumption profiles of customers. However, no specific details have been provided regarding its operation or its rates.
How will ETECSA's new pricing policy affect Cuban users?
The new tariff policy of ETECSA limits top-ups in Cuban pesos to 360 CUP per month, which has raised concerns among users who rely on the Nauta Hogar service for connectivity. This limit may increase inequality, favoring those who have access to foreign currencies to purchase packages in dollars.
What has been the reaction of the Cuban population to the new rates from ETECSA?
The reaction has been one of widespread rejection and discontent. Citizens view these measures as a "digital toll" that exacerbates economic inequality, limiting access to the Internet for those who do not have access to dollars or remittances from abroad.
What has ETECSA justified regarding the increase in rates and the limitation on top-ups in CUP?
ETECSA has justified the increase in rates and the limitation on recharges in CUP by pointing to the need to sustain and develop the country's technological infrastructure. However, these explanations have not convinced the public, who view these measures as an increase in economic burden without visible improvements in service.
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