Radio Cadena Agramonte emisiora de Camagüey
Havana, June 3rd.- ETECSA's Executive President, Tania Velázquez Rodríguez, announced on the Roundtable that, based on discussions with various sectors, it was determined that university students will be able to purchase a second 6 GB plan for 360 CUP. This will allow access to 12 GB for 720 CUP.
In addition, free access to educational and information sites will be implemented via the mobile network, benefiting public health and scientific activities. Currently, approximately 40 sites have been identified that will offer this access free of charge.
Velázquez also announced the continuation of work with organizations to promote the use of national information exchange platforms, such as Todus and Nauta, which offer differentiated prices and are accessible through national megabytes.
In an effort to support research, spaces in ETECSA's data centers will be allocated to host scientific journals, thus allowing more affordable access to this type of content.
Likewise, free educational environments at universities will be strengthened by locating servers in ETECSA centers, ensuring an adequate power supply.
The creation of educational channels on PICTA will also be promoted, incorporating content most commonly consumed online into the teaching process.
Finally, Wi-Fi zones will be strengthened in universities, IPVCE (Private Educational Institutions), Pedagogical Schools, and Provincial Vocational Technical Education Centers, and solutions will be implemented to facilitate access for students under 18 years of age, with proper parental authorization.
It was also announced that there will be an intermediate extra data plan for less than 3,360 pesos. At the same time, the validity of the plans has been extended to 35 days. These funds will continue to accumulate if a new recharge is made within those 35 days.
Previously, Ernesto Rodríguez Hernández, Interim Minister of Communications, emphasized that since Cuba connected to the Internet at the end of the last century, it has been a policy of the revolution to prioritize Internet services in key social sectors, such as education, culture, health, and science, which are fundamental to the country's development.
The minister recalled that, at that time, internet service was slow, expensive, and provided via satellite. Despite these limitations, there was always a desire to connect the social and scientific sectors that contribute to the country's progress.
The 2017 computerization policy and the digital transformation strategy, approved last year, reaffirm these principles by prioritizing internet connectivity in social and scientific sectors, as well as those that contribute most to the economy.
Rodríguez Hernández also acknowledged that the advances in computerization and digital transformation in recent years are largely due to the development of telecommunications infrastructure. Currently, all of the country's universities are connected and have links of more than 100 MB, while 47% of schools also have access, despite some technical issues.
In the healthcare sector, most hospitals, research centers, and polyclinics are connected, enabling progress in areas such as imaging and other essential services. Since 2014, international bandwidth has grown from 2.5 GB to nearly 500 GB by 2025, increasing more than 200-fold.
Infrastructure development enabled the launch of mobile internet service in 2018, which has been the most popular service among the population. At the start of the service, there were approximately 5.3 million mobile phones, and today there are more than 8 million. In December 2018, only a few thousand had internet access; currently, seven million lines are enabled for browsing.
Internet service in Cuba has grown steadily, with a significant increase in data usage. Thanks to the developed infrastructure, the country was able to better cope with the COVID-19 crisis, promoting teleworking, distance learning, and freeing up access to educational and professional sites.
However, Rodríguez Hernández emphasized that all of this comes at a high cost, higher than the international average, largely due to the blockade. This cost is not only economic but also technological, commercial, and financial, representing a continuing challenge for the development of telecommunications in Cuba.
In the current context, any means associated with technological infrastructure or services in Cuba are more expensive than the international average. This increase is not only due to the blockade, but also to the risk providers assume when offering services on the island. Currently, several providers have limited their services or withdrawn from the market, including essential technical support.
It's important to note that there are technologies that Cuba cannot access, which has led to the need to develop solutions to manage national platforms. However, this entails additional infrastructure costs and is carried out with equipment that lacks the efficiency of that used by other operators.
Interim Minister of Communications Ernesto Rodríguez Hernández emphasized that all this has occurred in a context where consumption and services have grown, while the revenues of ETECSA, the telecommunications operator, have decreased. This deterioration in service quality is due, in part, to the inability to maintain sustainable investments that support both user growth and demand for services.
"At one point, we had to make a decision that we knew was complex and sensitive, but necessary to begin the path to recovery. It was better to act than to wait for worse," said Rodríguez Hernández.
He also stressed the importance of understanding that the telecommunications industry requires constant investment. For example, only 50% of users in Cuba have access to adequate services. Furthermore, the deployment of 5G technology, which would not only benefit public internet access but is also key to the development of the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence, has not begun.
Investments are necessary not only in telecommunications infrastructure, but also in the platforms that support this management. These require licenses and updates that allow for more efficient management of network traffic, as well as support for cybersecurity platforms.
“It's necessary to acquire anti-bot systems, which requires significant investments. These systems are expensive and are only provided by a few vendors worldwide,” said Ernesto Rodríguez Hernández, Interim Minister of Communications, addressing the challenges in the sector.
The minister explained that the telecommunications business model has specific characteristics. For example, in international calls, costs are shared between operators, generating joint revenue. For years, international calling services were ETECSA's main source of external revenue. However, with the arrival of the internet, this service's use has declined due to a preference for social media.
Regarding Internet service, Rodríguez Hernández emphasized that the situation is different. Cuba must pay for the Internet channels necessary to consume content from abroad, as well as for the channels that allow national content to be accessed from abroad. In addition, costs are incurred for the terminal equipment and data centers where that content is hosted.
In response to these circumstances, national platforms such as Todus, Picta, Apklis, and Cuba Educa have been developed, which are well known to the population. "It is true that we must continue improving them," the minister added, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the country's autonomy, capacity, and digital sovereignty.
Rodríguez Hernández also emphasized that, due to the blockade, several international platforms are restricted for Cuba, making the need to strengthen national solutions even more urgent.
Ricardo Rodríguez González, current National President of the University Student Federation (FEU), commented on university concerns, including recent concerns about data access in scientific and technological programs, where data consumption is naturally higher.
As National President of the FEU, he has been involved in multiple dialogue forums to address the concerns of university students.
Along with other members, on Friday, May 30, he held a telephone conversation with the vice president of the Council of State and also with the president of the National Assembly of People's Power of Cuba, comrade Esteban Lazo. Always accompanied by the UJC and the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, the dialogue was characterized by mutual respect and exchange. Early on Saturday, the FEU participated in the meeting with the ministers, not only the training ministries but also other organizations involved in the training process.
The UJC and FEEM have also been active participants in these dialogues, demonstrating a joint effort to address the concerns and feelings of students.
Ricardo Rodríguez González emphasized the importance of maintaining clarity regarding the statements made by the various university faculties, stressing that all statements have been made with respect and with the aim of seeking optimal solutions for both the country and the university sector. In this regard, he highlighted that the concerns expressed by young students have been exploited by sectors opposed to the Revolution, who have attempted to manipulate their needs and concerns with the intention of generating political confrontation and fomenting division among Cubans.
Regarding concerns expressed by some citizens regarding an alleged breach of contract, ETECSA's Commercial Vice President, Lidia Esther Hidalgo, has clarified that the company has not committed any such breach. In response to concerns raised in various media outlets, she has urged customers to review clause 3.1.14 of the contract, where they can find the terms that support the entity's position. With this statement, ETECSA reaffirms its commitment to transparency and compliance with established agreements.
Tania Velázquez Rodríguez, President of ETECSA, explained, in response to a question from the moderator, that the 6 GB figure established in the recent measure was not determined randomly, but rather responds to a detailed study of the average data consumption of the majority of customers.
According to Velázquez Rodríguez, the analysis took into account usage patterns across different user segments, seeking to establish a limit that would be representative and equitable within the current context. She also noted that, with this figure, ETECSA sought to respect a considerable amount of data, allowing the vast majority of customers to maintain their connection habits without significantly affecting their access to essential services. The implementation of this measure, she explained, follows technical criteria that seek to balance user needs with the company's operational capabilities.
Lidia Esther Hidalgo, ETECSA's commercial vice president, reported that, starting today, data plans will have an extended validity of 35 days, allowing customers additional time to use their data without the strict limitation of the calendar month. This measure aims to offer greater flexibility to those who do not use up their plan within the usual period, adapting to individual user needs.
She also emphasized that the plans available are designed to be used according to each customer's usage and preferences, emphasizing that the company seeks to provide options tailored to different usage patterns. In this context, she announced that new offers will be launched this summer for Nauta Hogar customers, allowing them to choose the option that best suits their needs and offering more attractive alternatives to optimize their connection at home. (Text and Photo: Cubadebate)
