The installation of a new ETECSA WiFi zone in a park in Nueva Gerona, on the Isle of Youth, sparked more irony than celebration among Cubans, who questioned the usefulness of having to go to a public space to connect to the internet amid blackouts, insecurity, coverage issues, and service deterioration.
"Great news. At this rate, by 2080 there will be WiFi all over the island," one of the users remarked sarcastically in response to the announcement.
The state-owned company announced last Thursday on Facebook about the installation of a new wireless access point in the park located next to the roundabout on 41st Street, between 30th and 32nd Streets, in Nueva Gerona.
According to the Territorial Division of ETECSA, the initiative expands the "internet connectivity options for the residents of Isla de la Juventud." The announcement was accompanied by photographs of the park and a user accessing the network.
However, a significant portion of the comments focused on questioning why, at this point, accessing the internet from a park is being presented as an advancement.
"Going to a park to connect is a thing of the past," said a Cuban woman, who also expressed concern for the safety of people staying in the area using their phones.
"With how dangerous the streets are, I'm sure I'll be exposing myself in a place where the "mugger" knows that everyone there is carrying a phone and, in many cases, is 'distracted,'" they wrote.
Other users pointed out an even more basic problem: how to keep the new WiFi zone operational during the extended blackouts that affect the island.
"There's no fuel to keep it running! What they should do is relocate it and put the ones that don't have energy backup in a data center with power," complained one of the commentators.
There were also complaints from customers who already pay for Nauta Hogar and claim that they cannot use the contracted service normally.
"Meanwhile, those of us who pay for a service to have it at home continue to be unable to enjoy it," lamented a user.
Another summarized their opinion on the new installation with sarcasm: "What a great achievement! [...] It's normal for everyone to have access from their home."
The complaints also extended to other areas of the Isle of Youth where connectivity issues persist.
"In Gerona they install, in Ciego they uninstall," pointed out one user, while others asked ETECSA when the service in La Fe will improve.
Even the conditions of the park itself sparked comments. "Where do they sit? The park looks like it has not a single bench," remarked one person upon seeing the photographs published by the company.
Criticism arises amid the challenges facing Cuba's telecommunications infrastructure. ETECSA itself acknowledged in June that power outages render 47.5% of its mobile base stations inoperable and affect 56.5% of the telecommunications cabinets in the country.
The publication comes just a few days after the same Territorial Division of the Isle of Youth showed ETECSA employees participating in defense training exercises with rifles, images that sparked numerous calls for the company to prioritize the quality of the connection.
Now, the announcement of a new WiFi zone has triggered the same demand among users: more than just new public spots to connect, users are asking to be able to use the telecommunications services they are already paying for without issues.
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