Cuban Government Claims Internet Usage Surpasses Latin America

On Wednesday, Cuban Vice Prime Minister Eduardo Martínez Díaz proclaimed during the Mesa Redonda program that the average monthly mobile data consumption in Cuba exceeds that of Latin America and the Caribbean, reaching an impressive 10 gigabytes per user. "The monthly average consumption has hit 10 GB. It's genuinely a substantial figure. In our region, it's below 10. In Latin America and the Caribbean, it's around 7. Only the United States and Chile consume more than us," Martínez Díaz declared.

Despite these claims, he acknowledged that half of the state-run company's users will face restricted internet access. "The reality is that a significant portion, nearly 50% of the population, is now seeing limitations on a service they previously had. This is something we had achieved, but now we face this constraint," he admitted.

Justifying Decisions Without Self-Criticism

Martínez's statements come amid rising public discontent over internet restrictions in Cuba. He stressed that the decision to limit data packages with national top-ups is due to the unsustainable economic situation of the state telecommunications company, ETECSA. He explained that maintaining the company's services demands “hundreds of millions of dollars annually” to ensure the proper functioning of the country's technological infrastructure.

Instead of providing a solution to the crisis, the vice prime minister appealed for public understanding, conceding that the measure was poorly communicated. “Our people are intelligent, cultured, well-educated. The communication process of this measure was flawed; we cannot say otherwise,” he confessed.

Student Protests and Social Media Backlash

The government's statements intend to ease tensions on the island, yet they coincide with the day University of Havana students began an academic strike, which has spread to other provinces, protesting the new ETECSA rates. The government's response has been far from conciliatory. The Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) labeled the student protest as part of a "destabilizing maneuver" orchestrated by "enemies of the system."

Roberto Morales Ojeda, the PCC's Secretary of Organization, claimed that “there are many media manipulations and opportunistic distortions” aiming to “sow chaos, promote violence, and fracture the peace of the homeland.”

“Painful but Necessary”: A Repeated Narrative

Martínez Díaz described ETECSA's restrictions as "painful but temporary," a justification echoed in every unpopular adjustment, from power outages to shortages of food, medicine, or the dollarization of markets distancing people from essential goods. He emphasized that the new tariffs are not “whimsical.” They were announced as part of the government’s 2025 program, and “modeling” was done to minimize the impact on sensitive sectors such as students, educators, healthcare professionals, and journalists.

However, Martínez Díaz offered no concrete solutions to improve internet access in Cuba or clear timelines for reversing ETECSA's tariffs.

Promises Without Timelines and Growing Distrust

The official promised that "over time," the country might "restore the access level the population had" and even "reduce costs," yet he provided no details on how or when this would happen. Connectivity is crucial for studying, working, and staying informed. The measure particularly affects those without family abroad who can access foreign currency to top-up data beyond the 360 CUP monthly limit.

Meanwhile, the official call for “trust” clashes with a reality marked by decades of unfulfilled promises. “We will continue to work very hard,” Martínez Díaz stated, failing to convince a populace that has grown skeptical of governmental rhetoric.