Telecoms news from Cuba

Cuba's Government to Slash Mobile Phone Call Costs

Cuba's Ministry of Informatics and Communications (MIC) has announced substantial reductions in the cost of voice calls and SMS by the country's monopoly mobile network operator, Etecsa. ...more.

Cuba Has Over One Million Mobile Phone Subscribers

The number of mobile phones in Cuba had passed the one million mark at the end of last year, the country's National Statistics Office said in a report, ...more.

Cell phone subscribers in Cuba to top 1 mn by year's end

ETECSA, Cuba's state telecommunications company, is predicting that the number of wireless subscribers on the island will exceed 1 million by the end of this year. ...more.

Cuba criticizes US ruling on Internet access

Cuba says US ruling loosening Internet services to island meant to aid 'subversion' ...more.

Google welcomes chance to export to Iran, Cuba

A senior Google executive welcomed on Tuesday a U.S. decision to relax restrictions on exporting Internet communications services to Iran, Sudan and Cuba. ...more.

Treasury allows Internet exports to Iran, others

US Treasury allows export of online communications services to Iran, Cuba and Sudan ...more.

Miami firm says it will lay first US-Cuba fiber

A small Miami-based company said the U.S. government has given it permission to lay the first optical communications fiber from the U.S. to Cuba. That could drastically cut the cost of calling the island nation and make the Internet more accessible to Cubans. ...more.

Cuba criticizes Microsoft blocking Messenger

Cuba criticized Microsoft on Friday for blocking its Messenger instant messaging service on the island and in other countries under U.S. sanctions, calling it yet another example of Washington's "harsh" treatment of Havana. ...more.

Lifting of US restrictions could help Cuba telecom

Cuba is a blank spot on the Internet map, the only country in the Western Hemisphere that lacks a fiber-optic connection to the rest of the world. ...more.

US Government Lifts Export Restrictions on Telecoms Equipment to Cuba

The US government has announced plans to lift some of the export restrictions on US firms dealing with Cuba - which includes telecommunications equipment sales. ...more.

Mobile Phone Usage Surges in Cuba

Cuba's sole mobile phone network, ETECSA says that its subscriber base has surged by 60% to reach nearly half a million customers after the government relaxed the conditions for private citizens to buy mobile phones. ...more.

Cell phone costs slashed for Cubans

Cuba's telephone monopoly Etecsa is cutting the cost of activating a cellular phone from $120 to about $65 — a move that could put the once-restricted devices in the hands of more ordinary citizens. ...more.

Motorola Accused of Selling Phones to Restricted Countries

A mistake on the Motorola website had suggested that the company is selling products to Cuba, Iran, Syria, and Sudan - which are prohibited by US law, and resulted in a letter from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) seeking clarification. ...more.

Cuba Extending Mobile Phone Coverage to Guantanamo Bay

Cuba's Telecommunications Company (ETECSA) has announced that it is to expand its cellphone coverage in a road linking several eastern provinces. ...more.

President Bush OKs Sending Cell Phones to Cuban Relatives

Americans will be able to send mobile phones to relatives in Cuba under a new policy designed to challenge the nascent reforms of Cuban leader Raul Castro. ...more.

Cuban phone company reports 7,400 new cell phone accounts

Cuba's telephone monopoly says 7,400 new cell phone accounts have been contracted in the 10 days since all Cubans were allowed to sign up for service. ...more.

Cubans mob phone stores as new government begins offering unrestricted cellular service

Lines stretched for blocks outside phone centers Monday as the government allowed ordinary Cubans to sign up for cellular phone service for the first time. ...more.

Cuban Cell Phone Users Able to Call USA

Cubans who learned last week that they will be allowed to own cell phones got a bonus Wednesday, with news that the mobile connections will allow them to reach overseas friends and relatives in the U.S. and beyond. ...more.

Cuba Lifts Some Restrictions on Mobile Phone Use

Cuba's new president has authorized Cubans to officially get mobile phones, until now mainly reserved for foreigners and government staff, the state telecommunications company announced Friday. ...more.

Lat-Ams Left-wing govts advance on plan for joint telecoms firm

Representatives of telecoms firms in Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia and Nicaragua are meeting to discuss the legal aspects of creating a telecoms firm to serve their markets, Andean newspapers reported. ...more.