The Cuban Ministry of Communications (Mincom) has announced the "Caliprot 2026" Workshop on Citizen Services, Consumer Protection, Institutional Communication, and Quality. Scheduled for May 13 and 14 at the ETECSA Theater in the Miramar Business Center, Havana, the event will be broadcast via videoconference to all provinces, as reported by the Cuban News Agency.
With the theme "Connected to Our Own," the event is dedicated to the centenary of former dictator Fidel Castro and World Telecommunications Day on May 17. The irony is palpable, given that the Cuban telecommunications sector is known for its sluggishness, interruptions, and automated responses that offer no real solutions.
The workshop invites communication professionals, journalists, designers, audiovisual producers, and specialists in complaint handling, consumer protection, and IT service quality. Topics will include compliance with the Transparency and Access to Information Law and the Law on the System of Handling Complaints and Petitions—legislation whose real-world application is frequently questioned by ordinary citizens.
Mincom describes the event as "a space for training, reflection, and exchange of experiences, aimed at improving the quality of IT services in Cuba." Grand words from an organization that, in 2021, issued Decree-Law 35 criminalizing the sharing of information on social networks, and in 2025 declared the use of Starlink illegal in the country.
The reality of the service that Mincom aims to "enhance" is well-known by any Cuban with a phone. According to Ookla's Speedtest Global Index, Cuba recorded the world's slowest internet speed from May 2023 to 2024: 3.77 Mbps for mobile (ranking 147th out of 147) and 2.69 Mbps for fixed broadband (ranking 181st out of 181). As of March 2026, the island remained around 153rd out of approximately 180 countries for fixed broadband.
Add to that the cost, where a 3 GB internet plan is priced at 3,360 Cuban pesos per month, more than 50% of the average monthly salary of 6,649 pesos. Even when a connection is available, power outages—sometimes lasting up to 20 hours a day in certain provinces—cripple the telecommunications infrastructure, whose backup batteries only last a few hours.
Complaints against ETECSA are constant, with no workshop having managed to curb them. "Problems and more problems... the only thing they're punctual about is collecting payments," summarized a user. When someone manages to contact *2266, the response is typically abrupt: "It's already reported," with no follow-up action. In October 2025, the company attributed massive service disruptions to an "atmospheric duct," an explanation that was widely mocked.
The agency has also shown no hesitation in using telecommunications as a tool of repression: systematic service cuts to independent journalists or intellectual voices critical of the regime are glaring examples. During increasingly frequent public protests, the connection "mysteriously" disappears across the country. Consumer protection, it seems, has ideological boundaries.
Previous editions of Caliprot have existed as spaces for "experience exchange" without yielding noticeable improvements. The workshop kicks off on May 13. The connection, once it does arrive, will likely take a bit longer.
Understanding Cuba's Telecommunications Challenges
What is the focus of the Caliprot 2026 workshop?
The Caliprot 2026 workshop focuses on citizen services, consumer protection, institutional communication, and quality in the telecommunications sector.
How does Cuba rank globally in internet speed?
Cuba ranked last in the world for internet speed from May 2023 to 2024, with 3.77 Mbps for mobile and 2.69 Mbps for fixed broadband.
What are some challenges faced by Cuban telecommunications?
Challenges include slow internet speeds, high costs, frequent power outages, and service disruptions attributed to governmental control and censorship.