Telecommunications in Peril: ETECSA Faces 12 Vandalism Incidents in Holguín

The sole telecommunications provider in Cuba, Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba S.A. (ETECSA), is grappling with a wave of vandalism in Holguín. Since the beginning of 2025, there have been 12 attacks on its infrastructure, leading to service disruptions and leaving users disconnected. Despite these challenges, ETECSA's response has been limited to appeals for civic responsibility rather than implementing concrete measures.

Half of these incidents occurred in Holguín's main municipality, followed by two in Urbano Noris. Additional cases were reported in Cacocum, Moa, Calixto García, and Rafael Freyre. The primary targets for these acts are the telephone drop wires, UTP cables in wifi zones, and fiber optic lines, as reported by the official newspaper ¡Ahora!

Iliana Fernández Pérez, ETECSA's institutional communicator, urged citizens to take a more proactive role in safeguarding public resources. "We all have a duty to protect collective property as much as our own," she stated, emphasizing the need to "report, educate, and promote respect for public spaces." However, in the face of a prolonged economic crisis, many question the effectiveness of such appeals.

Despite calls for civic action, no specific measures to combat these acts have been outlined. There is no mention of enhanced security, investment in monitoring technologies, or improvements in community surveillance systems. The response seems more focused on expressing regret rather than prevention.

Furthermore, there is no information provided about the financial impact of these thefts, nor whether any suspects have been identified or prosecuted. This lack of concrete information bolsters perceptions of impunity and negligence.

Such rhetoric appears increasingly disconnected from the daily realities of citizens, who see no tangible improvements in service quality or accountability. Expecting the public to take on the role of "diligent guardians" of an infrastructure that fails to provide stable or efficient service is not only ineffective but also shifts responsibilities that should primarily belong to the company.

Earlier in May, ETECSA reported vandalism incidents that left hundreds in Havana's La Habana del Este, Marianao, and Centro Habana without phone service. In one instance, a fire in a Marianao telephone cabinet was suspected to be arson.

At that time, ETECSA officials did not disclose whether any arrests or investigations were underway. They also did not clarify if there are surveillance methods in place to identify the perpetrators of such vandalism. The entity cited insufficient financial resources to update its infrastructure.

In April, ETECSA blamed the decline in telephone and mobile network quality on individuals using illegal equipment, social indiscipline, and vandalism, amid severe economic and financial pressures. Kevin Castro Rodríguez, deputy director of ETECSA's Network Operations, noted that unauthorized antennas and repeaters interfere with radio base signals, disrupting network functionality in specific regions.

Addressing the vandalism and thefts, Rodríguez highlighted the impossibility of constant infrastructure monitoring and urged the public to remain vigilant and report any damage or vandalism to number 118. He assured that those responsible have been handed over to the appropriate authorities and warned that such actions sometimes aim to disrupt national order and security.

Disruptions in telecommunications services have a direct impact on the daily lives of Cubans, who rely on public telephony and internet access for communication and work. The absence of reliable telecommunications services adds another layer of difficulty to the already challenging everyday life in Cuba.