A post by ETECSA in the Isle of Youth showing its workers participating in a defense preparation exercise, some of them holding rifles, sparked criticism and irony among Cubans who called on the company to focus on improving its deteriorating telecommunications services.
"Fix the data connection, that would really be something to highlight," replied a user in response to the images posted on Facebook by the Territorial Division of ETECSA in that special municipality.
The photographs, released on August 31, show several workers wearing the company’s distinctive blue uniforms conducting exercises in a vegetation-covered area and carrying long weapons.
According to ETECSA, the activity aimed to "test the protocols of action and the preparedness of the workforce in the face of possible contingencies," as well as to reaffirm "the commitment to the security of the company's resources and the defense of national sovereignty."
However, the post ended up becoming a space for many Cubans to question the company's priorities.
One of the comments pointed out that on the same day, the service had been down for hours in the Isle of Youth, impacting even emergency situations and daily operations that rely on the internet.
"Zero coverage, there wasn't a single signal until 4 in the afternoon to make an emergency call from the polyclinic, or for families who couldn't buy food due to a transfer, and you are boasting about a defense exercise," the user criticized.
But the ironies multiplied.
"That's why the service is so poor; they have to occupy their time somehow," commented someone.
"In a normal country, the baker bakes bread, the fisherman catches fish, and the doctor heals their patients, for that is what they are paid to do," wrote another.
A third user directly questioned the company's priorities: "ETECSA's main responsibility is to provide quality service to the people, and they have never done that; it's better to focus on that aspect and leave defense to those who are responsible for it."
The activity is part of the «Year of Preparation for Defense» promoted by the Cuban regime in 2026, which has also involved workers from state-owned enterprises.
In June, more than 400 employees from ETECSA in Camagüey participated in activities during National Defense Day, which included shooting drills and exercises for assembling and disassembling rifles.
The images of the Isle of Youth were also shared at a time marked by complaints against Cuba's sole telecommunications operator over connectivity issues and interruptions related to prolonged blackouts.
In August, ETECSA mistakenly sent a false earthquake alert to thousands of phones in nine provinces, causing panic and evacuations, and attributed it to a "technical-human error."
"The worst service in the world. Neither the mobile network nor the landline works. Power outages lasting over 20 hours, and a millionaire company incapable of putting in battery banks to support the system," protested another user.
The publication that aimed to highlight the preparation of workers for potential contingencies ended up provoking a much more immediate demand among ETECSA's customers: that the phone and internet connection work properly.
Related videos:
Filed under: