Global technology discourse is already looking toward so-called “10G,” a new generation of ultra-fast fixed internet that promises speeds of up to 10 gigabits per second.However, in Cuba, where internet access remains limited and expensive, the contrast between the official narrative and everyday reality could not be greater.
While state media While they praise the advances in global connectivity, within the island the majority of users face prices that exceed the average salary and connections that rarely achieve the stability necessary for video calls or transmissions.
High prices and limited speeds
According to the state-owned company ETECSA, national plans in Cuban currency include 3 GB for 3,360 CUP, 7 GB for 6 720 CUP and 15 GB for 11,760 CUPThese figures far exceed the monthly income of many Cuban workers.
Meanwhile, foreign currency packages—which can only be purchased with international cards or through platforms in freely convertible currencies—include 4 GB for $10, 8 GB with minutes and texts for $20, and up to 16 GB for $35.
For the “Nauta Hogar” fixed service, the options vary between 512 kbps and 6 Mbps, with prices ranging from 1,250 CUP up to more than 24,000 CUP monthly. However, service interruptions, outages, and slowness are common.
Many users report that even when paying for the most expensive plans, their connection drops out or is drastically reduced during peak hours.
Blackouts and improvised antennas
Adding to the precarious infrastructure are the power outages, which directly affect connectivity. When electricity is cut off, the base station antennas that distribute mobile signals lose power because the backup batteries only last a few hours.
This limitation means that in large rural or peripheral areas, the mobile network disappears completely during prolonged power outages.
Amid this situation, many Cubans have turned to creativity to try to improve their coverage. Some are making homemade antennas out of coaxial cables, metal cans, or recycled parts, seeking to capture a more stable signal.
In neighborhoods with poor coverage, makeshift extenders are placed on roofs or balconies, and even homemade adapters that amplify mobile data reception are sold.
A modern discourse with an obsolete reality
The contrast between the discourse of technological modernization and the actual user experience is evident.
While the official press talks about "10G" as the future of fixed internet, basic, stable, and affordable access is still not guaranteed in Cuba. Fiber optic networks cover only very small areas, and the country relies almost entirely on slow and expensive mobile connections.
Internationally, 10G networks are being tested in the United States, Canada, and Spain with symmetrical speeds of up to 10 Gbps.
In Cuba, however, achieving a sustained connection of more than 2 Mbps is already considered a privilege.
The result is an ever-widening digital divide, not only between Cuba and the rest of the world, but also among Cubans themselves: between those who can pay in foreign currency and those who are left out of the network.
The challenge isn't just achieving 10G, but ensuring that connecting ceases to be a luxury. Because without stable electricity, without updated equipment, and with rates that deplete salaries, the country's technological future seems, for now, a distant promise.