ETECSA will charge up to 3 dollars per minute for roaming service calls

Talking on the phone outside of Cuba will officially become more expensive starting January 29, when a resolution goes into effect that authorizes the Cuban Telecommunications Company (ETECSA) to charge up to three dollars per minute for calls made or received from abroad using international roaming service.

The measure is neither new nor improvised. The Resolution 48/2025 was signed by the Minister of Communications, Mayra Arevich Marín, at the end of October 2025, but remained out of the public eye until its publication in the Official Gazette on December 29. The legal text itself established a 30-day deadline for its entry into force, which is now being fulfilled, which is why the Ministry of Communications has once again disseminated the information on January 29.

With the regulation now in effect, Cubans using roaming services abroad will have to pay up to $3.00 per minute for calls, $1.00 for each sent SMS, and $1.00 for every megabyte of mobile data consumed. The rates apply in prepaid mode and are expressed in U.S. dollars.

Although the document clarifies that ETECSA may offer lower prices with the authorization of the Ministry, the real impact comes in a context marked by emigration, forced travel, and the constant need to stay in touch with family. For many Cubans, a call from abroad is not a luxury but a basic connection to their loved ones.

The legal text also states that the state-owned company must inform users in advance about the rates according to the country and the foreign operator, but it does not provide clear mechanisms for protection against unintentional usage or connection errors, a recurring concern among users.

The official reminder from the Ministry of Communications also coincides with a recent announcement from ETECSA, published by Cubadebate, regarding the activation of international outgoing roaming for prepaid phone services. According to the state-owned company, starting March 1, 2026, users will be able to purchase specific roaming plans in dollars, through international distributors and offices that sell in USD, to keep their Cuban line active while abroad.

However, that announcement refers to the future marketing of plans, while the approved maximum rates of up to three dollars per minute take effect this January 29, in accordance with the resolution signed in October and published in December. The overlap of dates and messages may create confusion among users, just as the cost of the service starts to be applied.

Thus, a decision signed in October, published discreetly in December, and now reactivated by the authorities, begins to be felt in daily practice. In a country where the average salary barely covers basic needs, answering a call from outside Cuba can cost as much as several days' wages, reinforcing the feeling that communication remains, for Cubans, an increasingly expensive privilege.