Etecsa will increase the validity of mobile data packages

The Cuban Telecommunications Company SA (ETECSA) announced on its account in Twitter, which due to unstable mobile data connectivity over the weekend, will add five days to the validity of active data packages and email bags.

According to the published information, although only some numbers were affected by platform issues, the commercial measure will be applied to all.

They also indicated that upon detecting the situation, they implemented the appropriate technical actions, and the platform is now operating in a stable manner.

Over the weekend, several users reported complaints about poor mobile data connection quality on some numbers. 

The commercial management of the Cuban telephone company suggests that in case of any complaint, the public should contact them only through the established channels (118 and 52642266), where they will receive personalized attention. 

However, ETECSA customers have preferred to report service issues through tweets and comments on the company's social media profiles.

Recently, several users reported that those who connect to the Internet via the 2G network have experienced problems with their mobile data connections, even leading to speculation about a possible "measure" by ETECSA to prevent these connections.

In response to the avalanche of user comments on Twitter, Cubacel's institutional profile simply responded, saying, "The 2G network is not equipped to handle data traffic. We suggest you use the 3G network." 

In several public spaces, ETECSA officials have denounced these "traps" used by users to connect from devices that do not have access to the 3G network. 

To achieve this goal, they use borrowed terminals with 3G connectivity and receive a message allowing them to connect their phone number to the network enabled for mobile data connection and purchase, officials said.

There are areas in Cuba where there is less network congestion, and users can surf the Internet with good quality via 2G.

Nearly two million people have activated the mobile data internet service since it was launched in December 2018.

One million 870 thousand users have accessed the Internet through mobile data 

Since December 2018, when Etecsa enabled mobile data Internet access, 870 million users (35% of active lines in Cuba) have connected via this route.

The high prices for this service have led Cubans to find ingenious ways to "squeeze every sliver out of it."

While it's true that access has grown—today, 56% of Cubans are online, compared to only 4% four years ago—the majority still do so from their workplaces or schools. The online experience is limited, in some cases, to the .cu domain, which is already conditioned by restrictions on access to certain websites, as determined internally by the government.

In an appearance in Buenos Días magazine, Eliecer Zamada, head of ETECSA's wireless group, said that one of the tricks users use is connecting to the Internet from devices with access only to the 2G network.

"Many users have borrowed terminals with 3G connections, and when they register on our sites, they receive a message allowing them to purchase packages," the official said. 

This "trap" serving the telecommunications monopoly: 3G is one of the new services offered by self-employed workers with cell phone repair shops.

“To connect 2G cell phones to the internet, I use my own phone,” said a telecommunications engineer. “Many people complain about the slow speed, but this is an option for those who don't have 3G devices. Besides, there are areas outside the larger cities where there isn't as much congestion and the 2G speed is good,” he warns. 

Zamada himself confessed his surprise at this phenomenon on national television: "It wasn't something we could analyze or plan for because this trend isn't common around the world."