University of Havana's MATCOM Faculty Stands Up to ETECSA and Authorities: "No Classes Until We Get an Answer"

A covert recording lasting over an hour, leaked this week by X user (formerly Twitter) @SanMemero, has unveiled the true extent of the challenge issued by students from the Faculty of Mathematics and Computing (MATCOM) at the University of Havana. This challenge comes in response to the unpopular rate adjustment implemented by the state-owned company, ETECSA.

Within the audio, students can be heard demanding direct dialogue with decision-makers, financial transparency from the company, and a thorough review of Cuba's connectivity model. The protests were sparked by the so-called "tarifazo" announced on May 30, when ETECSA imposed a maximum monthly limit of 360 Cuban pesos (CUP) for national recharges, equating to just 6 GB of mobile data. Students interpreted this as an exclusionary policy, directly affecting access to information and online learning. Despite the subsequent offer of a second data bonus of equal value, dissatisfaction persisted.

The Struggle for Transparent Communication

In a meeting with the university's rector and faculty members, whose date remains unspecified, students made it clear they wouldn't settle for technical explanations. "We will not attend classes until we receive a response," a student representative asserted. The recording also captured the rector's warnings: "If there's a strike, it's counter-revolutionary. The University is and will remain revolutionary. We cannot play into the hands of those who want to see us on the streets."

This statement highlighted the growing discomfort among political powers with a sector of the university youth that, rather than engaging in traditional confrontation, chooses critical reasoning. Many students rejected the ideological manipulation equating academic strikes with betrayal. "We are speaking from within the process, from legality, from the right to be heard," insisted one student.

A New Generation Demands Its Voice

What began as a protest over internet access costs quickly evolved into a broader discussion on political participation, institutional transparency, and the faltering socialist enterprise model. The youth demanded concrete figures regarding ETECSA's revenue, the allocation of international recharges, and the actual feasibility of the current economic framework.

"We were taught to think and use data, and now they don't want us to question them," a student expressed, while another emphasized, "A socialist company cannot transfer the cost of its inefficiency to the people, especially not to students." During the meeting, a quote attributed to Fidel Castro during a student gathering in the early 2000s was also recalled: "Students must be listened to, no matter what they say. When they are not heard, the battle is lost."

Proposing Viable Solutions

Beyond criticism, students presented tangible alternatives: tiered pricing, differentiated packages for social sectors, using Joven Club as free access points, creating university-sponsored academic bonuses, and forming agreements with international organizations to fund educational connectivity.

"We want solutions that benefit everyone, not just specific sectors," voiced a MATCOM delegate. "We're asking for direct participation in the discussion of measures that affect us."

Tensions Extend Beyond the Campus

The meeting was marked by the presence of State Security agents, perceived as an attempt at intimidation. However, far from being deterred, the students intensified their demand for institutional respect and seriousness. Throughout the exchange, they were accused of echoing "the most reactionary sectors of the enemy." Their response was unequivocal: "Our stance doesn't follow any foreign script; it answers the real need of millions of Cubans who can't afford the internet and are therefore excluded from the present."

The fact that student leaders used expressions like “peaceful action,” “democratic representation,” or “legitimate socialist process” indicates that this was not an open confrontation with the system, but a call for dialogue that surpasses traditional control channels.

The University as a Political Barometer

Historically, the University of Havana has been a political barometer. The current situation at MATCOM seems to have national resonance. Other faculties, such as Philosophy, Sociology, Communication, and even Medical Sciences, have shown solidarity with the protesters, albeit in more discreet forms.

In recent days, university students across Cuba have circulated letters, anonymous statements, and calls to "suspend academic activities" in support. For authorities, the greatest fear is not the specific complaint but the precedent of student autonomy. That a faculty like Mathematics and Computing—whose students are trained in logic, data analysis, and critical thinking—stands up with solid arguments sends a political signal that transcends technological issues.

Despite promises of new rounds of dialogue and appeals for patience, the student body made it clear they will not willingly return to classes without a clear response that addresses at least some of their demands. "We were told that Cuba is a revolution in progress. Well, we are moving forward," concluded a student in her closing remarks.