Cuba will continue working to improve communication services

Cuba will continue working to improve communication services
Published on Friday, January 8, 2010

HAVANA, Cuba (AIN) -- Cuba will continue searching for technological,
security and financial solutions to increase telecommunication services
provided to the population.

Granma newspaper featured an article on Thursday about projections made
by Communications and Information Technologies Ministry's officials in
that area.

According to Granma, last December alone, the international connectivity
in the country was increased by 10 percent, in spite of the US economic,
commercial and financial blockade against Cuba and the ongoing world crisis.

The article explains that because Washington's blockade bans Cuban
access to underwater Internet cables, the island is forced to use
satellite connection, which is slower. However a group of strategies is
underway in the country to increase the efficiency of voice and date
transmission.

At present the internet connection speed in the island is 209 megabits
per second for outgoing transmission and of 379 for incoming
transmission. This speed does not meet the development need of the
information technology sector of the country, the article reads.

Ramon Linares Torres, first deputy communications minister, said because
of the technological and financial limitations of the country, Cuba will
continue to give priority to the use of new technologies for social
purposes, including internet connection.

Linares explained that internet services are subsidized for universities
and studies, cultural and scientific centers, among other institutions
that are also prioritized.

He noted that after the fiber optic cable that will link the island with
Venezuela is online, the communications quality will be boosted.

However, he pointed out, this does not necessarily means that the
Internet services will be expanded, as the island will still have to pay
high prices to international networks and make important investments in
the telecommunications infrastructure of the country.

Caribbean Net News: Cuba will continue working to improve communication
services (8 January 2010)
http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/article.php?news_id=20761