ETECSA to Charge Up to $3 Per Minute for Roaming Calls

Effective January 29th, speaking on the phone while outside of Cuba will become significantly more expensive. A new regulation permits the Cuban Telecommunications Company (ETECSA) to charge as much as three dollars per minute for international roaming calls, whether made or received from abroad.

This policy is neither sudden nor unexpected. Resolution 48/2025, penned by Communications Minister Mayra Arevich Marín in late October 2025, remained largely unnoticed until its release in the Official Gazette on December 29th. The legal document specified a 30-day period before enforcement, now concluding as the Ministry of Communications reiterates the information on January 29th.

With the regulation now in effect, Cubans utilizing roaming services abroad will incur costs of up to $3.00 per minute for calls, $1.00 for each SMS, and $1.00 per megabyte of mobile data used. These rates apply to prepaid services and are quoted in U.S. dollars.

Although it mentions that ETECSA could offer lower prices with ministry approval, the regulation impacts a landscape already shaped by migration, compulsory travel, and the pressing need to stay in touch with family. For many Cubans, a call from abroad is not a luxury but a fundamental connection to loved ones.

The legal text mandates that the state-run company must inform users in advance about the tariffs based on the country and foreign operator. However, it lacks clear protections against accidental charges or connection errors, a common concern among users.

The Ministry of Communications' reminder coincides with a recent announcement from ETECSA, reported by Cubadebate, regarding the activation of international outbound roaming for prepaid phones. Starting March 1st, 2026, users will be able to purchase specific roaming plans in dollars through international distributors and offices selling in USD to keep their Cuban lines active abroad.

Nevertheless, this announcement pertains to future plan sales, whereas the maximum tariffs of up to three dollars per minute are already in effect this January 29th, according to the resolution signed in October and published in December. The overlap of dates and messages might confuse users just as the service costs begin to apply.

Thus, a decision signed in October, discreetly published in December, and now re-enforced by the authorities, is starting to impact everyday life. In a country where the average wage scarcely covers basic needs, answering a call outside Cuba could cost the equivalent of several days' wages, highlighting the growing challenge of communication as an increasingly costly privilege for Cubans.