T-Mobile is now stepping up its game a notch higher as it announced on May 9 that it has joined forces with Cuban telecommunications firm Empresa De Telecomunicaciones De Cuba, S.A. (ETECSA) via an interconnect and roaming agreement.
What this means for the subscribers of the number 3 carrier in the United States is that beginning this summer, they will be able to take their phones in Cuba and still have access to text, voice, plus data roaming services while enjoying their trip on the island. On top of that, this new deal will pave the way for more affordable voice calls to those who want to reach their relatives and friends in the country.
“The historic opening of Cuba is a natural opportunity for us to take action, and we are. That’s the Un-carrier way!” said T-Mobile’s President and Chief Executive Officer John Legere. “We have more customers of Cuban descent than any other wireless provider – so connecting them with family and friends in Cuba is a message we heard loud and clear!”
T-Mobile shares that 36.6 percent, or a third of the total number of T-Mobile consumers, are Cuban-born wireless subscribers. It also claims that customers in Cuban-American hubs, such as Miami, are picking the Un-carrier and MetroPCS almost “twice as often” as Verizon or AT&T.
The company also emphasizes that it listens and responds to its consumers. In fact, on social media, Cuba is the most requested addition to the Un-carrier’s international roaming.
Specifically, customers of the T-Mobile Simple Choice will be able to enjoy these perks, as a result of the inked deal between the two companies.
1. T-Mobile consumers who will travel on the island will be able to use text, voice and data beginning summer.
2. Customers can call wireless phones and landlines in Cuba from the United States for only $0.60 for every minute, thanks to the 65 percent discount T-Mobile is throwing in to sweeten the pot.
This deal from T-Mobile comes hot on the heels of similar announcements from Sprint and Verizon Communications in late 2015. Verizon initially unveiled its deal for Cuba roaming in September, bestowing consumers $3 per minute for voice calls while $2 per megabyte for data. Back in November, Sprint followed in providing the same deal, with data at $2 per megabyte and calls for $2.49 per minute.
AT&T, in the meantime, is still in talks with ETECSA and expects that it is going to reach an agreement on wireless roaming for its consumers, reports Fortune.
