Normalisation of relations with the US lifts restrictions in telecom equipment importsCuba still has the lowest mobile phone and internet penetration rates in the region, and is also among the lowest for fixed-line teledensity. Fixed-line and mobile services remain a monopoly of the government-controlled Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba (ETESCA Cubacel).

1. Cuba - Telecoms, Mobile,
Broadband and Digital Media -
Statistics and Analyses
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2. ABSTRACT
Normalisation of relations with the US lifts restrictions in telecom equipment imports
Cuba still has the lowest mobile phone and internet penetration rates in the region, and is
also among the lowest for fixed-line teledensity. Fixed-line and mobile services remain a
monopoly of the government-controlled Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba
(ETESCA Cubacel).
Although there remain substantial state controls over the right to own and use certain
communications services, including the right to access the internet, a thawing of relations
between the US and Cuba has encouraged the government to improve access to services.
During 2015 a number of free Wi-Fi hotspots were introduce, albeit with slow
connectivity, and while the cost of internet access was more than halved in mid-year, to
$2 per hour, it is still prohibitively expensive for most Cubans. Access to sites is also tightly
controlled and censored. The ongoing normalisation of relations with the US promises to
have considerable economic benefits for Cuba. This is particularly important given the dire
economic difficulties of the country's chief sponsor, Venezuela. During 2015 the main US
mobile network operators, including AT&T, Sprint, Verizon and T-Mobile US, signed
internet and roaming agreements with the Cuban incumbent telco ETESCA, while in
January 2016 the FCC allowed US firms to do business directly with the Cuban telecom
sector. In addition, the government has looked favourably on proposals for a new subsea
cable to link Cuba directly with Florida, which would supplement the only direct
international cable access, via the ALBA-1 cable from Venezuela.

3. Abstract
Key developments:
Thaw in relations with the US promising stimulus to Cuba's economic prospects;
FCC removes Cuba from its exclusion list', enabling US companies to Cuba expresses interest in
new subsea cable to Florida;
Netflix launched services in Cuba in February 2015 following the lifting of trade restrictions
from US companies, though the high price guarantees limited take-up.
T-Mobile joins Verizon and Sprint in offering roaming and cheap calls to Cuba;
DTTV reached about five million people by late 2014, with coverage extended to all provincial
capital cities.
In mid-2014 the government allowed internet services to be extended to non-agricultural
cooperatives, though these must comply with the same strict conditions which apply to other
authorized outlets.
The ALBA-1 submarine fibre-optic cable between Cuba and Venezuela has the potential to
provide 640Gb/s bandwidth. In May 2013 the Jamaican branch of the cable was opened for
traffic, following the route through to Venezuela in January 2013.
In March 2014 ETECSA introduced a new mobile email service, @nauta.cu. The operator also
planned to extend ADSL-based services to residential homes. In preparation, the Ministry of
Communications set the maximum tariff which ETECSA can charge per megabyte at CUC1.
ETECSA in February 2015 allowed Cubans to have up to three mobile lines, lifting the
restriction of a single line per subscriber imposed in March 2008.

4. List of Tables
Learn more about this report
Table 1 Country statistics Cuba 2015 (e)
Table 2 Telephone network statistics 2015 (e)
Table 3 Internet provider statistics 2016
Table 4 Internet user statistics 2015 (e)
Table 5 Mobile statistics 2015 (e)
Table 6 National telecommunications authority
Table 7 Evolution of GDP in Cuba 2010 - 2015
Table 9 Total network international traffic 2007 -
2016
Table 10 International bandwidth 2003 - 2014
Table 11 Internet users and penetration rate
2000 - 2016
Table 12 Fixed-line broadband subscribers 2007
- 2016
Table 14 Mobile subscribers and penetration
rate 2000 - 2016
Table 15 Mobile network international traffic
2007 - 2015
Table 16 Mobile network domestic traffic 2009 -
2015
Chart 1 Fixed lines in service and teledensity
2000 - 2016
Chart 2 Internet users and penetration rate
2000 - 2016
Chart 3 Mobile subscribers and penetration rate
2002 - 2016
Exhibit 1 Submarine cable network connects
Cuba and Venezuela

5. ABOUT THE PUBLISHER
Paul Budde Communication is a telecommunications and information highway consultancy
company specializing in market analysis. Paul Budde is a well-known industry consultant and
market analyst with broad international experience. Research concentrates on the
management and marketing issues of the telecommunications and information highways
markets. Having been involved in the industry for over 20 years, Budde associates have
become experts in analyzing the information. As we are an independent operation, we can
assess the market objectively and provide accurate information about trends and
developments, with realistic time-frame predictions. Paul Budde Communication publishes
approximately 1,000 market research Web reports and 25 specialized Web news reports.
View more reports from this publisher
Other Titles from this Publisher
Australia - Mobile Broadband - Market Analyses
Brazil - Mobile Operators - Statistics and Analyses
Middle East - Mobile Network Operators and MVNOS

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