hola, this is cuba calling
The cellphone, a ubiquitous consumer product that the modern person takes for granted, even in third world countries, has broken another barrier and opened up a new frontier — Cuba.
The socialist nation, led by its recently-elected president Raul Castro, just announced that it is doing away with its restriction on cellphone use, allowing normal citizens access to buying and using cellphones for the first time. Previously, cellphone use was confined to government officials and foreigners. Cubans who tried to circumvent the rule had their phones either registered in their foreign friends’ names, or through the companies in which they worked.
It is a calculated move to open up bit-by-bit the highly government-regulated and controlled island, and comes on the heels of Cubans being able to buy previously-monitored electronic equipment such as computers.
On paper, this loosening of rules sounds great. It demonstrates the change in mindset of the Cuban government and a response to the wishes of its people for more personal freedom.
But in reality, these latest moves will benefit only the wealthier Cubans or those with access to hard currency through foreign remittances, as the cellphones and other electronic equipment have to be purchased in hard currency, Cuba’s convertible pesos, which is linked to the US dollar.
Consider this — the average Cuban makes about $20 a month in their mostly government-linked jobs, while it is estimated to cost $140 for a handset and credits for using it. That puts cellphone use out of the reach of a large number of Cubans, and will further deepen the divide between the “haves” and “have-nots” in the country, making the claim that equality is a part of Cuban life a lie. Already, resentment is high among those who see the better quality of life Cubans with hard currency have. This could build up more frustration in the citizenry.
With the lowest rate of cellphone use in Latin America, Cuba also suffers from an under-developed telecommunications infrastructure, which means that costs of use would be high for at least a while, before more investments are made.
So while this new step by Castro will make headlines around the world, it is a Pyrrhic victory for ordinary Cubans.
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[...] hola, this is cuba calling …telecommunications infrastructure, which means that costs of use would be high for at least a while, before more investments are made. [...]
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March 28, 2008 at 6:49 pm
I have personally taken out 2 telephone lines for people in Cuba. I have never understood the reasoning behind the current restrictions. Cubans are allowed to have phones and buy phones freely but the actual line has to be registered by a foreigner who then gives the Cuban permission to use it. Makes no sense at all.
And as you point out the current change in rules won’t make much of a difference because it will still only be the people with access to money from foreigners who can afford to buy a line. It costs 125 cuc to get the sim card and then the cost of the phone on top of that.
In fact all of the current changes are only going to benefit the people with money. For years people have been buying DVD player and airconditioners on the black market. Making them available in CUC stores is not going to make them cheaper. They’ll still probably be looking at close to 100 cuc to buy a DVD player.
The Cubans I know aren’t really reacting at all to the announced changes nor do they think that Raúl is going to make a big difference.
I think when we see some follow-thru on things like Cubans being allowed to stay at tourist hotels (which again only the rich can afford) or more importantly an end to the exit visa requirement for travel, that’s when Cubans might feel like something good may be happening.
Michelle
March 30, 2008 at 2:49 am
The “new” policy changes nothing. If you could afford a phone before, you could get one. (See previous comment by Michelle). I’ve done the same, bought a phone for a friend in Cuba. The policy change was to impress the rest of the world, not to add freedoms to the Cuban people. http://talkingcuba.wordpress.com/
talkingcuba
February 27, 2009 at 5:32 pm