Cuba Struggles With Broadband Availability and Adoption

Cuba Struggles With Broadband Availability and Adoption
Broadband's Impact, International June 28th, 2010
BroadbandBreakfast.com Staff, BroadbandBreakfast.com

WASHINGTON, June 28, 2010 – Cuba is still lagging significantly in its
broadband availability and adoption.

According to the CIA World Factbook, Cuba has 11.5 million inhabitants,
and Reuters found that there are only 700,000 computers in Cuba. This is
equal to 62 computers for every 1,000 citizens, and about 14 internet
users per 100 residents. Cuba's National Statistics Office reported on
its web page that there were 1.6 million Internet users, and in most
cases this was to a government intranet.

International Telecommunications Union data show that Jamaica, the
Dominican Republic and Haiti offer superior connectivity.

The majority of Cuba's computers are in government offices, health and
education facilities and citizens must obtain government permission
before purchasing a computer or accessing the internet.

Cell phones were legalized in in 2008, and there are 1.8 million phone
lines in the country. There are about 15.5 lines for every 100
inhabitants, the lowest in the region according to the ITU.

Satellite TV access is still illegal without the government's
permission, and homes are regularly raided for dishes and receivers,
according to news reports that also found that Cuba's failure to embrace
modern telecoms is a major complaint among citizens under 50 years old.
The younger residents cite the lack of modernization as one of the
reasons they seek to migrate abroad.

http://broadbandbreakfast.com/2010/06/cuba-still-lagging-in-broadband-adoption/