Cuba’s state-run telecommunications company ETECSA has announced adjustments to its recent commercial measures in response to widespread criticism from various social sectors, particularly within the university sphere. The new changes include specific benefits for students and healthcare workers amid a broader economic crisis exacerbated by the U.S. blockade and technological constraints.

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Amid growing public dissatisfaction over increased mobile internet prices, the Cuban Telecommunications Company S.A. (ETECSA) introduced new flexibilities aimed at mitigating the impact of recent rate hikes, especially in vulnerable sectors such as education and public health.

ETECSA, Cuba’s sole telecommunications provider, was established after the Cuban Revolution as a state-owned entity with a mandate to ensure universal, equitable, and sovereign access to communication services. Its mission has long been tied to the country’s scientific, educational, and cultural development, assigning it a social responsibility that extends well beyond commercial interests.

The announcement came from ETECSA’s Executive President, Tania Velázquez Rodríguez, during a second broadcast of the national television program Mesa Redonda. The update followed a series of exchanges with student leaders, academics, and civil society actors who raised serious concerns about affordable access to digital connectivity.

One of the most significant updates is the launch of a second 6 GB plan priced at 360 Cuban pesos (CUP), available exclusively for university students. This will bring the total monthly quota to 12 GB for 720 CUP, offering partial relief compared to the basic data plan introduced on May 30, which costs 3,360 CUP.

Additionally, ETECSA announced free mobile access to a list of roughly 40 educational and scientific websites, benefiting students, researchers, educators, and healthcare professionals. This initiative aims to protect academic development and the right to information amid economic hardship.

In coordination with state agencies, efforts will also be made to promote the use of national platforms such as Todus and Nauta email, whose data consumption is deducted from lower-cost “national megabytes.” National scientific journals will also be hosted on ETECSA servers to facilitate more affordable access to key academic resources.

🔊 La presidenta Ejecutiva de @ETECSA_Cuba, @taniavel76 , anunció en la @mesaredondacuba que a partir de los intercambios con diferentes sectores se determinó realizar nuevas acciones comerciales.
👉 Detalles en: https://t.co/nFUvj1mHyE pic.twitter.com/hkvQ89QwFS

— ETECSA (@ETECSA_Cuba) June 3, 2025

Velázquez also stated that Cuba’s educational infrastructure—particularly in universities, vocational high schools (IPVCE), pedagogical institutes, and provincial technical schools—will be strengthened. This includes improvements in Wi-Fi zones and the installation of local servers with backup energy sources.

Minors will be granted academic internet access upon authorization from their legal guardians, as part of a broader effort to ensure digital equity among young students. On the audiovisual front, the content platform PICTA, developed by the University of Computer Sciences (UCI), will incorporate highly demanded educational materials, helping integrate visual content into learning processes.

During the broadcast, Interim Communications Minister Ernesto Rodríguez Hernández emphasized that the high cost of telecommunications in Cuba is not solely the result of internal policies, but also a consequence of the U.S. economic blockade, which drives up technology costs and restricts international providers.

“Many providers have withdrawn or limited their services, including critical technical support,” Rodríguez explained. He described the updated measures as “a difficult but necessary decision to set the country on the path to recovery. It was better to act now than to wait for a worse outcome.”

From the University Student Federation (FEU), its national president Ricardo Rodríguez González stressed that student concerns mainly revolve around the high cost of data plans in relation to academic demands, particularly in science and technology fields that require frequent data usage. He underscored that statements from university faculties were issued with respect and aimed at seeking optimal solutions for both the nation and its academic community.

Regarding the choice of the 6 GB package as the baseline offer, Velázquez explained that this was based on internal ETECSA studies of average mobile data consumption among prepaid users. The goal, she said, was to establish a “representative and fair” plan that would not restrict access to essential educational or informational platforms.

The validity period for these plans will extend to 35 days, allowing unused data to roll over if a new top-up is made within that timeframe.

While the measures were welcomed by the university community, they do not fully resolve concerns around the affordability of internet access in Cuba, where technology remains costly and scarce. For many users, even with these adjustments, prices remain out of reach amid an ongoing inflation crisis.

In a country where connectivity has become essential for education, work, and civic participation, debates around digital rights, fair pricing, and inclusion remain pressing. The steps taken by ETECSA reflect a first attempt to respond to social demands—but also serve as a reminder that internet access must not remain a privilege—it must be upheld as a basic right.

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