New Cuba US direct phone link established

12 March 2015 Last updated at 00:44 GMT

New Cuba US direct phone link established

Cuba and the United States have re-established direct telephone links
for the first time in 15 years, Cuba's state telecommunications company
says.

The company, Etecsa, said initially the link would only be for phone calls.

Telephone calls have until now passed through a third country, making
them very expensive.

It is the first agreement signed by the two countries since the
announcement last December that the two states would renew diplomatic ties.

Americans and Cubans will now be able to make direct calls to each
other's countries.

"The re-establishment of direct communications between the United States
and Cuba contributes to providing better infrastructure and better
communications quality between the people and our two countries," Etecsa
said.

Etecsa's American counterpart, New Jersey based telecommunication firm
IDT Domestic Telecom, said: "Ultimately, the agreement will make it
easier and more affordable for our customers to call friends and family
in Cuba."

According to the Miami Herald newspaper, the two companies were in talks
to restart international long-distance traffic between the two countries
before the announcement in December.

A key part of the decision of the Obama administration to restore
diplomatic ties with Cuba was to help boost telecommunications on the
island, the BBC's Will Grant in Havana reports.

Our correspondent adds that in the long run it is hoped in Washington
that it will lead to greater Internet access.

A US delegation led by Daniel Sepulveda, the State Department Bureau of
Economic and Business Affairs co-ordinator for international
communications and information policy, will head to Havana later this
month to meet their Cuban counterparts.

Cuban officials have said they are ready to work with US
telecommunications companies.

"We confirmed we are ready to receive US telecom companies to explore
business opportunities - business that could be of benefit to both
sides," Josefina Vidal, the Cuban foreign ministry official heading the
Cuban delegation, said after the first round of US-Cuba talks in January.

Only an estimated 5% to 25% of Cubans have any type of Internet service.

However, since the December announcement, Cuba has temporarily cut the
price of state-run Internet cafes from $4.50 (£3) an hour to $5 for over
two hours.

The government has also said it plans to open more than 100 additional
cafes this year.

Last year, Etecsa also launched a mobile email service, Nauta.cu.

In February, Netflix announced that Cubans with high-speed Internet
connections and access to international payment methods would be able to
subscribe to its popular film and TV show service.

However, few Cubans will be able to afford to access their service at
the moment.

Source: BBC News - New Cuba US direct phone link established -
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-31844847