This morning’s news: Cuba to increase unrestricted Internet access at new outlets
Cuba will begin offering broader Internet access next month through 118 outlets around the country, according to a decree in the government’s Official Gazette on Tuesday, in a step long awaited by many Cubans.
Just like Starbucks, you say?
Hmm…not quite:
It said Internet would be made available starting June 4 at offices of ETECSA, the state telecommunications monopoly,
where everything you did in their computer goes into their hard drives, instantly available to the thugs that beat you up.
The decree made clear that the new Internet access would be closely monitored, warning users it could not be used to “endanger or prejudice public security, or the integrity and sovereignty of the nation.”
But wait! There’s more!
The access though comes at a hefty price, which is payable only in Convertible Pesos (CUCs), the currency issued by the Castro dictatorship to tourists. Typical Cuban citizens, on the other hand, are paid in regular pesos that are worth a tiny fraction of CUCs. The pricing for access to the internet in one of these new Internet Cafés is so prohibitive, one single hour of access to the internet will cost almost an entire week’s salary.
Which means, only the very brave who really have something to say will dare use it.
Not Starbucks, no siree…
