Cuba will continue working to improve communication services

HAVANA, Cuba (AIN) -- Cuba will continue searching for technological, security and financial solutions to increase telecommunication services provided to the population.

Granma newspaper featured an article on Thursday about projections made by Communications and Information Technologies Ministry’s officials in that area.

According to Granma, last December alone, the international connectivity in the country was increased by 10 percent, in spite of the US economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba and the ongoing world crisis.

The article explains that because Washington’s blockade bans Cuban access to underwater Internet cables, the island is forced to use satellite connection, which is slower. However a group of strategies is underway in the country to increase the efficiency of voice and date transmission.

At present the internet connection speed in the island is 209 megabits per second for outgoing transmission and of 379 for incoming transmission. This speed does not meet the development need of the information technology sector of the country, the article reads.

Ramon Linares Torres, first deputy communications minister, said because of the technological and financial limitations of the country, Cuba will continue to give priority to the use of new technologies for social purposes, including internet connection.

Linares explained that internet services are subsidized for universities and studies, cultural and scientific centers, among other institutions that are also prioritized.

He noted that after the fiber optic cable that will link the island with Venezuela is online, the communications quality will be boosted.

However, he pointed out, this does not necessarily means that the Internet services will be expanded, as the island will still have to pay high prices to international networks and make important investments in the telecommunications infrastructure of the country

Source:caribbeannetnews.com/