María del Carmen Hernández Carús, the mother of Leticia Martínez Hernández, who serves as the Communications Chief for Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel, has voiced her opposition to the newly imposed stringent limits on national currency internet access by the Telecommunications Company of Cuba (ETECSA). In a Facebook post, Hernández Carús condemned the measure, arguing that it prevents what "as revolutionaries, we should be doing to combat the war waged against us through the networks."
According to her reasoning, this is "essential," yet it is hindered by ETECSA's announcement to cap Cuban peso (CUP) recharges at 360 monthly and to offer mobile data plans exclusively in U.S. dollars (USD). "I'm not talking about anything else, no videos, no trivialities, only what we as revolutionaries must do to counter the attack on us through networks. I say it's not enough for me. And dreaming of buying those extra packages is out of the question," she wrote.
In her message, she acknowledged that ETECSA "needed" foreign currency to "improve its services," but firmly stated that she couldn't provide "even a dollar." "I'll watch the roundtable today, but most likely, I'll bid farewell to all of you. Here's a goodbye just in case I don't get to see you again," she concluded.
ETECSA's decision, announced this past Friday, is said to address the need to "develop and sustain the telecommunications service network in our country," as was previously indicated by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz during the parliamentary sessions last December. While the use of CUP is restricted, ETECSA is promoting new Extra DATA Plans in U.S. dollars, now available through international cards and MiTransfer Wallet.
Hernández Carús's post attracted numerous comments from netizens reminding her that the directive came not from ETECSA, but from the regime she supports. One commenter expressed concern that ETECSA, a socialist state-owned company, "blatantly violates what is stipulated in the contract with all its clients" and "has just legalized the informal market exchange rate of the USD in Cuba, since 10 USD equals 3360 CUP."
The commentator further argued that the communication monopoly could also reduce its administrative infrastructure, such as office floors in Miramar's Business Center, the most expensive in the country, and fleets of administrative vehicles that are renewed annually, among others.
The recent decision to limit recharges in Cuban pesos (CUP) to 360 monthly and to offer mobile data plans only in U.S. dollars (USD) has led social media users to express their frustration at what they consider a massive exclusion of millions of citizens without access to foreign currency.
This measure marks another step in the dollarization of the Cuban economy, where essential services, like internet access, are becoming privileges reserved for those who receive remittances or have access to U.S. dollars.
ETECSA's New Tariff Policy in Cuba
Why is ETECSA imposing limits on Cuban peso recharges?
ETECSA is imposing these limits to address the need to develop and sustain the telecommunications service network in Cuba, as indicated by the Prime Minister.
What are the new limitations imposed by ETECSA?
The new limitations include capping Cuban peso (CUP) recharges at 360 monthly and offering mobile data plans exclusively in U.S. dollars (USD).
How has the public reacted to ETECSA's new tariffs?
The public has expressed frustration and concern over what they perceive as a massive exclusion of citizens who lack access to foreign currency, viewing the move as part of the dollarization of essential services in Cuba.