At the close of 2019, 7.1 million Cubans had access to the Internet, which represents 63 percent of the population of approximately 11.3 million.
Of these, mobile data customers reached 3.4 million and more than 650,000 have the service with 4G speed one year after the launch of the activation of the mobile internet network.
The data was provided by Minister of Communications Jorge Luis Perdomo, in a report at a review meeting on the work of the sector.
Currently active cell phone lines total more than 6 million and almost 650,000 subscribers joined in the period.
The public areas of Wi-Fi connection reach 1,500, of which 229 were installed in 2019.
The minister’s report states that the country increased its capacity by 30 percent in terms of international connectivity.
He said that cybersecurity, the television digitalization program, the diversification of Internet access, are pending areas where foreign investment projects must be completed and medium and long-term financing must be achieved.
Cuba activated the mobile data network in December 2018 and extended the commercialization of the Internet connection.
The president of the Cuban Telecommunications Enterprise (ETECSA), Mayra Arevich, acknowledged that there is dissatisfaction regarding the cost of services provided by ETECSA, the only operator in the country.
“We have not lowered prices for years, but we significantly reduced the rates of the offers. The cost of Wi-Fi started at 4.50 CUC the hour; today we also have the Nauta Hogar (Internet at home) service and rates at 0.70 CUC per hour, in addition to additional bonuses at 0.50 CUC,” said Arevich.
She said that ETECSA has a planned investment plan to improve the network and considered that “we do nothing by lowering prices and people not being able to connect.”
Until recently, the island was one of the most disconnected countries in the world. In the last two years it has been boosting a computerization process that includes the authorization of Internet access from homes and the enabling of Internet service in mobile phones.
(EFE / OnCuba)
