Following the improvements in relations with Cuba, the Obama Administration has opened up the possibility for U.S. telecommunications providers to set up services in Cuba.
Starting on Monday, companies like Verizon and AT&T will have the possibility of opening stores in Cuba, as well as establishing partnerships with Cuban companies.
The move could have a huge effect on how many people are able to access the Internet in Cuba, which continues to be one of the least connected countries in the world. Only around five percent of people in Cuba have regular access to the Internet, largely due to strict government control over the state-run carrier, Etesca. It's important to mention that the Cuban government has been attempting to improve connectivity in the country, offering Wi-Fi back in March, and then in June, more than halving the price of Wi-Fi to $2 per hour from $4.50 per hour.
This is, however, still far too expensive for the majority of Cubans, with the average income in the country being $20 per month.
Of course, while the U.S. government is allowing U.S. carriers to enter Cuba, it remains to be seen if the Cuban government will allow it. It seems pretty unlikely that this will happen. It is possible that carriers could partner with Etesca, which would end in profit for both companies.
Verizon began making steps toward Cuba earlier in the week, when it announced that it would offer international roaming for customers that are traveling in Cuba. The cost of this is high by even U.S. standards, however, with phone calls costing $2.99 per minute and Internet costing $2.05 per megabyte of data.
Via: The Verge
