Tania Elena Velázquez Rodríguez, the executive president of the state-run telecommunications monopoly ETECSA, has been placed on the Cuban Repressors List by the Represores Cubanos portal. This move follows her direct involvement in imposing exorbitant internet access fees in Cuba, a measure seen by many organizations and analysts as a form of digital rationing and economic repression.
The decision was prompted by her televised statement on June 1, where she publicly deemed the rate hike a "necessity" to funnel foreign currency into the state-owned company amidst a severe economic crisis. This announcement was followed by additional remarks on state television.
The new pricing structure sets the cost of 3 GB at 3,360 CUP, 7 GB at 6,720 CUP, and 15 GB at 11,760 CUP. Comparatively, Cuba's average salary in 2024 stood at 5,839 pesos, with a minimum wage of 2,100 CUP, rendering even the most basic data package unaffordable for millions of Cubans. In stark contrast, the average mobile data usage in the United States was 22 GB per month in 2024.
Internet Access: A Human Right?
According to the United Nations, which has recognized internet access as a human right since 2011, connectivity services should cost less than 2% of the monthly per capita income in low or middle-income countries. The Cuban case significantly exceeds this benchmark.
During her TV appearance, Velázquez Rodríguez justified the price increase by citing a lack of foreign currency, financial fraud, and an accumulated debt hindering technology imports. She claimed the company requires $150 million annually to maintain its infrastructure.
However, the Miami Herald disclosed that RAFIN S.A., a financial entity linked to the military group GAESA and involved with ETECSA, had $407 million in cash as of last August, challenging the insolvency narrative.
ETECSA: A Tool of the Regime?
An engineer from the company told Diario Las Américas that ETECSA "is not a company serving society but a slush fund for the regime," with revenues between $8 and $12 billion from 2012 to 2020, of which only 7% to 11% was reinvested in infrastructure.
The accusations against Tania Velázquez include violations of freedom of opinion, expression, and information (Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights), making the internet unaffordable through excessive pricing, and violating the right to access information and communication technologies. These charges categorize her as a "white-collar repressor," referring to civilian officials who oppress through administrative decisions with systematic impacts.
Analysts warn that the so-called rate hike serves a dual purpose: compelling relatives abroad to cover the high service costs, economically benefiting the state, and restricting internet access as a medium for organization, protest, and idea dissemination amid growing social discontent.
The measure has sparked student unrest at no fewer than ten universities nationwide and a wave of outrage visible on social media.
While the Cuban regime promotes an image of modernization and technological sovereignty, millions remain offline, not due to a lack of infrastructure, but because of deliberate policies that turn internet access into a class privilege.
Impact of ETECSA's Rate Hike in Cuba
Why was Tania Elena Velázquez Rodríguez added to the Repressors List?
She was added to the list due to her role in implementing high internet access fees in Cuba, which is viewed as a form of economic repression and digital rationing.
What are the implications of the new internet pricing in Cuba?
The new pricing makes internet access unaffordable for many Cubans, exacerbating economic inequality and restricting access to information and communication technologies.
How does the situation in Cuba compare to international standards for internet access?
The pricing in Cuba significantly surpasses the United Nations' recommendation that connectivity services should cost less than 2% of the monthly per capita income in low or middle-income countries.