From December 6, Cubans can get free access to the 3g network via a subscription. Cuba is therefore one of the last countries to offer this service. Previously, Cubans could only gain access by logging in through a government email account.
According to the AP, Marya Arevich, president of the Cuban telecom monopoly Etecsa, reported through a national television channel that 3G subscriptions will be available from December 6. The service will come online in different phases to avoid overload.
A standard subscription costs 9 euro cents per megabyte. Other packages contain 600 megabytes for about 6.17 euros and 4 gigabytes for 26.46 euros. For many Cubans, a 4 gigabyte package is too expensive. They have a state-determined salary of about 26 euros per month.
In recent years, 3G networks have been set up in several places on the island, but these were only accessible to tourists and other foreign travellers. Since the construction of a fiber optic connection to Venezuela in 2012, Cuba has been working on more widely available internet access. In 2015, the government-run internet cafes got more Wi-Fi hotspots and the rates were halved.
Internet access is still regulated by the communist government, but restrictions have been relaxed in recent years. There is less censorship on the Cuban network these days. However, accessing a number of US-funded radio stations and other platforms calling for a change in the political system on the island is not possible.