Communications in Cuba
Encyclopedia
Telecommunications in Cuba
consists mainly of NTSC
analog television
, analog radio
, telephony
, AMPS
, D-AMPS, and GSM mobile telephony
, and the Internet
. Telephone service is provided through ETECSA
, mobile telephone service is provided through the Cellular Telephone Company of Cuba (CUBACEL) and Caribbean Cellular (Celulares del Caribe, C-COM). Cuba's main international telecommunications links are through Intersputnik
, with antiquated undersea telephone cables to the U.S.
, the West Indies, Spain
, and possibly Italy
.
International call prefix: 119
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.2 million, 72nd in the world, less than 10 per 100 inhabitants (2009).
Telephones - mobile cellular: One million mobile phones at the end of 2010 (9 per 100 inhabitants), up from 621,000 in 2009 and 330,000 in 2008, when all Cubans were allowed to buy and use them for the first time. Mobile-cellular telephone service is expensive and must be paid in convertible pesos, which limits subscribership.
Telephone system:
95% of telephone switches were digitized by end of 2006. Principal trunk system is coaxial cable; fiber-optic distribution in Havana and on Isla de la Juventud; two microwave radio relay installations (one is old, US-built; the other newer, Soviet-built); both analog and digital mobile cellular service established; one international satellite earth station, Intersputnik
(Atlantic Ocean region). A new undersea fiber-optic link with Venezuela
is scheduled for 2011.
6 national radio networks, an international station, and many local radio stations. All state-owned and operated by the Cuban Radio and Television Corporation (ICRT), which manages Radio Rebelde, the largest AM network, and the SW service Radio Habana Cuba. Radio Marti, based in Miami, Florida and financed by the United States government
, transmits Spanish language radio broadcasts to Cuba.
Radios:
3.9 million, 64th out of 188 in the world (1997)
4 national TV networks and many local TV stations.
All state-owned and operated by the Cuban Radio and Television Corporation (ICRT). TV Marti, based in Miami, Florida and financed by the United States government
, transmits Spanish language TV broadcasts to Cuba. The American Forces Network
(AFN) has a station intended for U.S. military personnel at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
.
Televisions:
2.64 million, 54th out of 185 in the world (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2, Empresa Telefonica de Cuba, S.A (ETECSA
), Colombus (2003)
Top level domain: .cu
A special permit is required to use the Internet. Access to the Internet is heavily controlled, and all e-mails are closely monitored.
The Cuban authorities have called the Internet "the great disease of 21st century" due to 'counter-revolutionary' information being available on a number of websites, some of which are official news sites. As a result of computer ownership bans, computer ownership rates were among the world's lowest. However, since buying a computer was legalized in 2007, the ownership of computers in Cuba soared, dramatically increasing the number of Internet users. But, the rates still remain quite low, partially due to the high costs of systems and Internet usage per hour in contrast to the average monthly wage.
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
consists mainly of NTSC
NTSC
NTSC, named for the National Television System Committee, is the analog television system that is used in most of North America, most of South America , Burma, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, and some Pacific island nations and territories .Most countries using the NTSC standard, as...
analog television
Analog television
Analog television is the analog transmission that involves the broadcasting of encoded analog audio and analog video signal: one in which the message conveyed by the broadcast signal is a function of deliberate variations in the amplitude and/or frequency of the signal...
, analog radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
, telephony
Telephony
In telecommunications, telephony encompasses the general use of equipment to provide communication over distances, specifically by connecting telephones to each other....
, AMPS
Advanced Mobile Phone System
Advanced Mobile Phone System was an analog mobile phone system standard developed by Bell Labs, and officially introduced in the Americas in 1983, Israel in 1986, and Australia in 1987. It was the primary analog mobile phone system in North America through the 1980s and into the 2000s...
, D-AMPS, and GSM mobile telephony
Mobile telephony
Mobile telephony is the provision of telephone services to phones which may move around freely rather than stay fixed in one location. Mobile phones connect to a terrestrial cellular network of base stations , whereas satellite phones connect to orbiting satellites...
, and the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
. Telephone service is provided through ETECSA
ETECSA
Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba S.A. is the government owned full telecommunications service provider for the island of Cuba. The company is 27% owned by Telecom Italia with the remainder owned by the Ministry of Information and Communication. The services provided by ETECSA includes...
, mobile telephone service is provided through the Cellular Telephone Company of Cuba (CUBACEL) and Caribbean Cellular (Celulares del Caribe, C-COM). Cuba's main international telecommunications links are through Intersputnik
Intersputnik
The Intersputnik International Organization of Space Communications commonly known as Intersputnik is an international satellite communications services organization founded on November 15, 1971, in Moscow by the Soviet Union along with a group of eight formerly socialist states...
, with antiquated undersea telephone cables to the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the West Indies, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, and possibly Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
Telephone
Country code: +53International call prefix: 119
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.2 million, 72nd in the world, less than 10 per 100 inhabitants (2009).
Telephones - mobile cellular: One million mobile phones at the end of 2010 (9 per 100 inhabitants), up from 621,000 in 2009 and 330,000 in 2008, when all Cubans were allowed to buy and use them for the first time. Mobile-cellular telephone service is expensive and must be paid in convertible pesos, which limits subscribership.
Telephone system:
95% of telephone switches were digitized by end of 2006. Principal trunk system is coaxial cable; fiber-optic distribution in Havana and on Isla de la Juventud; two microwave radio relay installations (one is old, US-built; the other newer, Soviet-built); both analog and digital mobile cellular service established; one international satellite earth station, Intersputnik
Intersputnik
The Intersputnik International Organization of Space Communications commonly known as Intersputnik is an international satellite communications services organization founded on November 15, 1971, in Moscow by the Soviet Union along with a group of eight formerly socialist states...
(Atlantic Ocean region). A new undersea fiber-optic link with Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
is scheduled for 2011.
Radio
Radio broadcast stations:6 national radio networks, an international station, and many local radio stations. All state-owned and operated by the Cuban Radio and Television Corporation (ICRT), which manages Radio Rebelde, the largest AM network, and the SW service Radio Habana Cuba. Radio Marti, based in Miami, Florida and financed by the United States government
Broadcasting Board of Governors
The Broadcasting Board of Governors is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for all non-military, international broadcasting sponsored by the U.S government. It was previously a department within the United States Information Agency until 1999.-Origins:Starting in...
, transmits Spanish language radio broadcasts to Cuba.
Radios:
3.9 million, 64th out of 188 in the world (1997)
Television
Television broadcast stations:4 national TV networks and many local TV stations.
All state-owned and operated by the Cuban Radio and Television Corporation (ICRT). TV Marti, based in Miami, Florida and financed by the United States government
Broadcasting Board of Governors
The Broadcasting Board of Governors is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for all non-military, international broadcasting sponsored by the U.S government. It was previously a department within the United States Information Agency until 1999.-Origins:Starting in...
, transmits Spanish language TV broadcasts to Cuba. The American Forces Network
American Forces Network
The American Forces Network is the brand name used by the United States Armed Forces American Forces Radio and Television Service for its entertainment and command internal information networks worldwide...
(AFN) has a station intended for U.S. military personnel at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
Guantanamo Bay Naval Base is located on of land and water at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba which the United States leased for use as a coaling station following the Cuban-American Treaty of 1903. The base is located on the shore of Guantánamo Bay at the southeastern end of Cuba. It is the oldest overseas...
.
Televisions:
2.64 million, 54th out of 185 in the world (1997)
Internet
Internet users: 1.6 million, 79th in the world, roughly 12% of the population (2010)Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2, Empresa Telefonica de Cuba, S.A (ETECSA
ETECSA
Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba S.A. is the government owned full telecommunications service provider for the island of Cuba. The company is 27% owned by Telecom Italia with the remainder owned by the Ministry of Information and Communication. The services provided by ETECSA includes...
), Colombus (2003)
Top level domain: .cu
.cu
-Second Level Domain Names:* .com.cu* .edu.cu* .org.cu* .net.cu* .gov.cu* .inf.cu-External links:* *...
A special permit is required to use the Internet. Access to the Internet is heavily controlled, and all e-mails are closely monitored.
The Cuban authorities have called the Internet "the great disease of 21st century" due to 'counter-revolutionary' information being available on a number of websites, some of which are official news sites. As a result of computer ownership bans, computer ownership rates were among the world's lowest. However, since buying a computer was legalized in 2007, the ownership of computers in Cuba soared, dramatically increasing the number of Internet users. But, the rates still remain quite low, partially due to the high costs of systems and Internet usage per hour in contrast to the average monthly wage.