Better late then never I guess. President Raul Castro, who succeeded his brother Fidel as president of Cuba in February of this year, has relaxed long-standing restrictions on cellular phone use and ownership. Of course, mobile phones have been available in Cuba for years, but the only people who could legally own them were party officials, and certain well-to-do foreigners. Regular Cuban citizens were banned from owning or registering cell phones, though many did so illegally.
But now Cuba is being thrust boldly into the wireless era, and the government restrictions on cell phone usage have mostly been lifted. This past Monday hundreds — if not thousands — of regular Cuban citizens waited in line to buy legal mobile phones and wireless service for the first time in the nation’s history.
But the cost of purchasing a legal cell phone and wireless service is anything but cheap in Cuba. In fact, the average price of a standard mobile phone and one year service contract is estimated to be nine months pay for the average Cuban worker — that’s one expensive cell phone!
But even though the cost is currently so exorbitant — cell phones are only sold in Cuba through state operated telecommunications offices — Cuban citizens seem to have an insatiable appetite for mobile phone service. Up until now, Cuba has had the lowest cell phone usage of any country in Latin America. But now all citizens will be able to purchase prepaid cards to allow them to make and receive calls, including international calls.
Although critics have said that Raul Castro is little more than a pale copy of older brother Fidel, in reality the new Cuban leader appears to be taking decisive action to open up Cuban society and commerce. Relaxing the laws on mobile phone ownership is just one example of the changes taking place on the island.
Politically, the move may signify a shift in Cuban policy, and even encourage the American government to rethink its long-standing boycott of Cuba. Washington is watching closely to see what changes, if any, the new President Castro will instigate. And even a simple move such as allowing broad ownership of mobile phones could go a long way toward opening up a Cuba culturally, politically and financially.
Although Spain, Canada, and most of Europe, has continued to have close ties with Cuba, the United States has held out, and refused to lift the 40 year economic boycott. But the political landscape in the US is changing as well, and with Raul Castro now running Cuba, the timing could be right to open up relations between the U. S. and one of its closest neighbors.
