The decision by businessman Elon Musk to offer free internet through Starlink to the people of Venezuela has sparked enthusiasm and hope among thousands of Cubans who, both inside and outside the island, have started to ask the tech mogul for a similar gesture for Cuba.
After the capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in a U.S. military operation, Musk announced on his X account that Starlink will provide free connectivity for one month across all of Venezuelan territory, in order to ensure access to free information during the political transition process.
"In support of the people of Venezuela," Musk wrote, accompanying his message with a Venezuelan flag. Hours later, the company confirmed the free service until February 3, emphasizing that the measure aims to maintain "the continuous connectivity of the Venezuelan people."
Reactions from Cuba: “I hope it’s our turn.”
On the CiberCuba Noticias page, where the article about Musk's gesture was shared, hundreds of Cubans left comments expressing their desire to receive similar support to break the information censorship that prevails on the island.
It is necessary to do the same with Cuba while the current leaders are in power. It would be a devastating blow to the Party's control over communications, expressed a user.
Others were more direct: “Cuba, when will it be?”, “Do the same with Cuba, Elon”, “We need free internet to be able to report what is happening here” or “Don't worry, when they catch Díaz-Canel, they'll do it in Cuba.”
The reaction reflects a widespread feeling of frustration. While Venezuelans celebrate the possible access to a censorship-free network, Cubans continue to struggle with the limited and expensive connectivity of the state monopoly Etecsa, which monitors communications and blocks independent news portals, including CiberCuba.
The contrast between Venezuela and Cuba
Musk's decision comes at a crucial moment. Venezuela is entering a phase of political openness following the capture of Maduro, while in Cuba, an authoritarian model persists that restricts basic rights such as free internet access and freedom of expression.
“They always have us with our eyes closed, without connection or the right to information,” lamented a user. Another wrote: “Wow, how envious. We have the restricted internet from Etecsa, which is terrible and extremely expensive.”
For many Cubans, the arrival of Starlink on the island would be more than just a technological improvement: it would be a tool for freedom. “If Musk did in Cuba what he did in Venezuela, the regime would lose control in a matter of days,” stated another user.
Elon Musk has not responded to the messages that dozens of Cubans have left on this topic on social media. However, the demand is not just for a free service, but for an opportunity to break the isolation imposed by the regime.
This demonstrates how much hunger there is for free information in Cuba, commented a reader. While in Venezuela they are opening access to the truth, here we continue to pay dearly for silence.
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