A failure in the controversial Telecommunications Company of Cuba (ETECSA) telephone exchange has left more than 60,000 customers in the province of Pinar del Río without landline service.
This was indicated by the Cuban communications monopoly in a first post on social media nearly 24 hours ago.
"We inform our fixed-line phone customers in Pinar del Río that, due to a malfunction at the telephone exchange, approximately 60,000 services are affected. Our specialists are working on restoring them. We apologize for the inconvenience caused," the notice stated.
A subsequent report, updated at 3:00 p.m. this Friday, warned that the problems persisted and provided some clues regarding the cause.
“Fixed telephone service disruptions continue in #PinarDelRío. The telephone exchange, installed in 2000 and now outdated, continues to report failures in its control cards:” the note stated, indicating that specialists were working on-site.
The controversial state-owned company made no predictions about when the fixed telephone service would be restored for those affected.
Since then, ETECSA -which has been in the eye of the storm for days due to the so-called "tarifazo"- has not provided any new updates on the matter.
In the comments section of both posts, dozens of commentators attacked the battered reputation of the state-owned company, which is currently experiencing the lowest level of popularity in its history, and that's saying a lot.
A user described it as a “company of discommunications”; while another clarified that they do not consider themselves a “client of ETECSA” by choice, but only use the service because there is no other alternative.
The problems are not new, and several comments highlight the ongoing lack of response from the company regarding technical issues.
A neighbor from the Capdevila area in the Havana municipality of Boyeros complained that the lines in her area have been unrepaired for over a year, reflecting a crisis in infrastructure and service that seems to be worsening over time.
The interruption of more than 60,000 fixed telephone lines aligns with the narrative put forth by ETECSA in recent days, which has argued for the necessity of dollarization to improve service.
Frequently Asked Questions about ETECSA's Impact in Pinar del Río
How many ETECSA customers were affected by the outage in Pinar del Río?
More than 60,000 customers of ETECSA in the province of Pinar del Río were affected by a failure in the telephone central.
What was the cause of the fixed-line telephone failure in Pinar del Río?
The failure was due to issues with the telephone exchange, which is outdated, installed since the year 2000, and exhibits faults in its control cards.
What measures is ETECSA taking to address the problem in Pinar del Río?
ETECSA has informed that its specialists continue working to fully restore the service, though they have not provided a specific timeline for a definitive solution.
What is the reaction of ETECSA customers to these recurring failures?
Customers have expressed outrage and rejection regarding the poor service provided by ETECSA, criticizing the exorbitant rates and the lack of alternatives in the Cuban telecommunications market.
How does the technological obsolescence of ETECSA affect its services?
The technological obsolescence of ETECSA causes frequent interruptions in its services, highlighting a structural crisis in its telecommunications infrastructure.
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