A report from the state-run Canal Caribe, which praised the installation of solar panels at the Niquero telephone center in Granma as a guarantee of uninterrupted communications, has sparked responses from Cubans who dispute the official narrative.
In a video shared on Facebook by Canal Caribe, it is showcased as progress that 8 out of 13 municipalities in Granma now have photovoltaic structures for telecommunications. The system installed in Niquero, with a 30-kilowatt capacity, is said to ensure fixed and mobile phone services, as well as Nauta Hogar, available 24/7.
An Etecsa official featured in the report claims, "Cellular coverage lasts all day and sometimes until around 9 or 10 at night, even when there are power shortages."
However, the comments below the video tell a vastly different story.
A Granma resident bluntly refutes the claim: "Lies, I am from Granma, when the power goes out, nothing works, maybe it’s just her house."
From Guisa, also in Granma, another Cuban is even more straightforward: "There’s never any power here."
A resident from Guane, Pinar del Río, acknowledges that panels were installed in her area but notes the minimal benefit: "It only lasts a few hours, the rest of the time we remain disconnected, and mobile phone service doesn’t work at all at any time."
In Holguín, a neighbor from the town of Fray Benito in the Rafael Freyre municipality describes the inequality generated by the program: "We never have connection or landline or Nauta Hogar or anything, since we're 7 kilometers from the municipal center and don't receive Etecsa's signal, while they enjoy 24-hour communications."
Other commentators demand that the benefits reach places like Manzanillo, described as "a disaster," and several label the report as outright "lies" and "hot air."
The skepticism is well-founded. Etecsa itself admitted in June 2026 that its backup batteries only cover a few hours during blackouts, and during these times, around 47.5% of mobile radio bases go offline, with 56.5% of telecommunications cabinets affected.
The electrical generation deficit in Cuba hit a historic record of 2,208 MW on June 25, 2026, and the National Electric System has collapsed at least five times this year, with power outages exceeding 20 hours daily in large areas of the country.
This video exemplifies a recurring pattern where official media present partial advances as total solutions, while citizens refute these claims in their comments. "That doesn’t exist in Cuba, it’s a facade," summarizes one comment. "And if it does exist, it’s for the officials, not the people."
Understanding the Communication and Power Challenges in Cuba
Why are Cubans skeptical about the solar panel installations?
Cubans are skeptical because, despite claims of improvements, they continue to experience frequent power outages and lack of reliable communication services, contradicting the official reports.
What did Etecsa admit about their backup systems?
Etecsa admitted that their backup batteries only last a few hours during blackouts, resulting in nearly half of mobile radio bases and a significant portion of telecommunications cabinets going offline.
How severe is Cuba's electrical generation deficit?
Cuba's electrical generation deficit reached a record high of 2,208 MW, leading to frequent collapses of the National Electric System and causing prolonged power outages across the country.