{"id":324001,"date":"2025-06-06T19:05:03","date_gmt":"2025-06-06T23:05:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/?p=324001"},"modified":"2025-06-06T19:05:03","modified_gmt":"2025-06-06T23:05:03","slug":"etecsa-apologizes-but-the-rate-increase-remains","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/cuba\/economy\/etecsa-apologizes-but-the-rate-increase-remains\/","title":{"rendered":"ETECSA apologizes, but the \u201crate increase\u201d remains"},"content":{"rendered":"

President Miguel D\u00edaz-Canel defended this Thursday the controversial increase in telephony and mobile internet rates as a necessary evil. At the same time, ETECSA<\/a> <\/strong>president Tania Vel\u00e1zquez offered a public apology, amid social discontent and an unprecedented university protest that has caused a schism in the student body.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFailing to implement these measures would mean forgoing revenue, without which we would be accelerating the already imminent collapse of the service,\u201d D\u00edaz-Canel stated, emphasizing that the country faces an \u201cimminent technological collapse\u201d if fresh foreign currency resources are not obtained as soon as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n

In his regular podcast, <\/span>Desde la presidencia<\/span><\/i> (From the Presidency), D\u00edaz-Canel<\/a><\/strong> acknowledged the strong social rejection, but insisted that ETECSA\u2019s situation is critical and that the government is willing to make \u201ccorrections\u201d and \u201ccontinue seeking solutions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t want this step, but it had to be taken,\u201d he asserted. \u201cThere has never been a better time for measures that take away or limit social benefits that have been achieved, as is the case here,\u201d he added.<\/span><\/p>\n

He also admitted that \u201cno measure limiting benefits pleases the Executive Branch\u201d and that the current policy is setting back plans for the computerization of society.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Collective criticism<\/b><\/h3>\n

The president read a string of criticisms compiled by his analysis and communications team, including that the telecommunications monopoly\u2019s measures \u201cdeepen the digital divide and affect everyone, not just students\u201d while \u201cmany users feel harmed, especially those with lower incomes who lack access to foreign currency.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Likewise, complaints and challenges were recorded regarding \u201cthe lack of consideration for workers, retirees, and other vulnerable sectors that also depend on connectivity.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

At the same time, questions were raised about \u201ca state-owned enterprise imposing these measures, which they consider abusive and contrary to the well-being of the people,\u201d in addition to criteria that discredit the argument put forward by \u201ca state-owned enterprise that should be subsidized\u201d and that, consequently, would be oriented toward \u201cseeking other alternatives.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n