Half of ETECSA Users to Face Impact of New Price Hike, Executive Confirms

Lidia Esther Hidalgo Rodríguez, the Vice President of Commercial Operations at ETECSA, revealed this Friday on the state-run program Mesa Redonda that nearly half of the telecom company's customers will be affected by recent policy changes. These changes severely restrict the use of the Cuban peso (CUP) for mobile top-ups, instead promoting data packages priced in U.S. dollars.

During the televised discussion, Hidalgo Rodríguez assured the regime's spokesperson Randy Alonso that the decision was based on a "study" of consumer behavior patterns. "Over 50% of our population consumes around the value that aligns with the offers we're making available, which continue to offer more data at increasingly affordable prices," she stated, attempting to highlight the supposed benefits of the new policy.

Hidalgo Rodríguez emphasized that the limit of 360 CUP within a 30-day period applies specifically to national top-ups made through local apps. "Some customers simply want data and a combination, and additionally, there is a 360 peso offer that provides 6 GB along with more SMS and minutes than other plans we have available," she explained.

For the remaining half of the population with "different needs," additional data plans are available at exorbitant rates. Customers will have to pay 3,360 CUP for 3 GB, 6,720 CUP for 7 GB, and 11,760 CUP for 15 GB. Another set of packages is priced in dollars, with top-ups made from abroad.

In her justification, Hidalgo pointed to the necessity of financing to "develop the country," though the real motive lies in the regime's exploitation of increased internet consumption to bring in dollars. "We know the importance of the internet today. It's used for everything, from work to maintaining relationships with friends and family. Internet traffic has nearly quadrupled. 75% of internet traffic in Cuba relies on mobile services. Consumption patterns have shifted towards streaming and gaming platforms; this is a normal behavior," noted Tania Velázquez, President of ETECSA, during the Mesa Redonda.

Despite the 6 GB limit for 360 CUP on national top-ups, ETECSA officials praised platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram for allowing "efficient data use": "With just 1 GB, you can send up to a million text messages, maintaining active communication," omitting details about data consumption for video calls, a popular method for Cubans to connect with family abroad.

Regarding educational and work-related needs, they mentioned the inclusion of 300 MB for national browsing and free access to platforms like ToDUS and Nauta email with 50 MB per mailbox, as well as other educational tools that "do not consume data," as if these were the only necessities for students.

The dollarization of ETECSA's services primarily affects Cubans without access to foreign currency. The new dollar-based data plans, such as 4 GB for 10 USD, make internet access a privilege for those receiving remittances from abroad.

This measure deepens economic inequality and restricts connectivity for a significant portion of the population, reinforcing a monetary duality in an essential service. Many users perceive the company's rationale as an affront, given that service quality has not improved despite high prices and ongoing restrictions.