The latest policy from the Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba S.A (ETECSA) imposes a cap of 360 CUP for national currency recharges every 30 days. At best, this amount allows the purchase of a 6 GB package, significantly limiting daily internet use in Cuba.
To put it into perspective, here's what 6 GB can approximately offer in terms of online activity:
WhatsApp (text only): over 6,000 hours of chatting.
Basic web browsing: about 120 hours.
Social media (moderate use): around 60 hours.
YouTube in standard quality (480p): only 12 hours.
Video calls or online classes: between 8 and 10 hours.
TikTok, Reels, or Instagram videos: merely 8 hours.
Music streaming (Spotify/YouTube Music): roughly 150 hours.
However, be cautious! Background app updates or enabling HD quality on platforms like YouTube or Netflix could deplete your data package in just a few hours. This means that with ETECSA's current national currency allowance, an average Cuban cannot maintain a stable connection, let alone carry out work, educational, or entertainment activities digitally without access to foreign currency.
In a country where the minimum wage hovers around 2,100 CUP, this policy is not only exclusionary but also technically unsustainable. However, our version for Cuba ensures free access to information with all images compressed to optimize data consumption. It is also 80% lighter in data usage compared to other websites.
ETECSA's Stringent Measures
The Institutional Communication Directorate of the state-owned enterprise detailed that prepaid service customers will only be able to top up their primary balance to a maximum of 360 CUP within a 30-day period. Although users can still use the available balance to purchase plans or make transfers, this new restriction marks a significant shift in the mobile service operation in national currency.
According to ETECSA, this measure is necessary to "develop and sustain the telecommunications service network in our country," as previously indicated by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz during parliamentary sessions last December.
While CUP usage is restricted, ETECSA is promoting new Extra DATA Plans in US dollars, available through international cards and Monedero MiTransfer. These plans can be purchased at authorized commercial offices and offer:
4 GB for 10 USD.
8 GB + 75 MIN + 80 SMS for 20 USD.
16 GB for 35 USD.
All these "offers" include an additional 300 MB for national navigation, a feature that remains unchanged. Furthermore, new Extra DATA Plans in CUP are now available through Transfermóvil, Online Services, Monedero MiTransfer, and the commercial network. These packages are as follows:
3 GB for 3,360 CUP.
7 GB for 6,720 CUP.
15 GB for 11,760 CUP.
Each plan also includes 300 MB for national navigation. However, the prices in Cuban pesos are excessively high, reaching figures that far exceed the country's minimum wage, which is approximately 3,000 CUP.
Frequently Asked Questions about ETECSA's Data Plans
Why is ETECSA limiting national currency recharges?
ETECSA states that the limitation is necessary to develop and sustain the telecommunications service network in Cuba, as explained by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz.
What are the new data plans available in US dollars?
The new data plans include options such as 4 GB for 10 USD, 8 GB plus 75 minutes and 80 SMS for 20 USD, and 16 GB for 35 USD, with an extra 300 MB for national navigation.
How do the new CUP-based data plans compare to the minimum wage in Cuba?
The CUP-based data plans are priced significantly higher than the minimum wage in Cuba, which is around 3,000 CUP, making them largely unaffordable for the average citizen.