The Cuban government has made its stance clear in thwarting any attempts to bring in and use Starlink antennas on the island, recognizing them as a direct threat to the state’s telecommunications monopoly. The potential for the Cuban populace to access unrestricted, fast, and uncensored internet, bypassing the tight control of the Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba S.A. (ETECSA), is viewed by the regime as a risk that must be curtailed at all costs.
In this ongoing technological crackdown, Wiliam Pérez González, the first deputy chief of the General Customs of the Republic (AGR), announced on Tuesday via the social media platform X that authorities had intercepted another attempt to smuggle in seven Starlink satellite antennas. These devices were cleverly concealed within televisions and mixed among other goods as part of a shipment processed at Havana's international airport cargo terminal.
"The established measures were applied," Pérez stated, though he did not provide specifics regarding the origin of the antennas or the penalties for those responsible for the smuggling attempt. The regime's characteristic secrecy prevents a full understanding of the extent of these actions but underscores their persistent crackdown on any technological alternatives that could allow Cubans to connect to the internet independently of ETECSA.
In a similar incident in April, the AGR discovered three Starlink devices hidden inside televisions sent from the United States to the province of Holguín. Pérez confirmed this event through a post on X, crediting the successful interception to the "skill and training" of customs officers. That same month, the regime again detected efforts to bring in satellite equipment at Havana Airport. "Various models and methods to evade controls without declaration were noted," Pérez remarked at the time.
Recently, the Cuban regime accused the U.S. company SpaceX, which operates the Starlink satellite internet service, of allegedly operating illegally on the island and violating at least four U.S. laws and international regulations. This warning was issued on Monday by the Technical Budgeted Unit for Radio Spectrum Control (UPTCERCuba), a state entity under the Ministry of Communications, which accused Starlink of acting as a "digital outlaw," circumventing both American legislation and international telecommunications norms.
Understanding Cuba's Stance on Starlink
Why is Cuba opposed to Starlink antennas?
Cuba sees Starlink antennas as a threat to its state-controlled telecommunications monopoly, which limits the population's ability to access fast and uncensored internet independently of ETECSA.
How does the Cuban government detect smuggling attempts of Starlink equipment?
Cuba's customs officials use their training and expertise to identify concealed Starlink equipment within other goods, as evidenced by recent interceptions at Havana's international airport.
What accusations has Cuba made against SpaceX?
Cuba has accused SpaceX of operating illegally on the island, violating multiple U.S. and international telecommunications regulations, and labeled it a "digital outlaw."