Internet Access in Cuba: From Control to Constellations
The first internet connection in Cuba was established in 1996 as a 64 Kbps link via Sprint in the United States. In 2011, with help from Venezuela, Cuba installed the ALBA-1 undersea fiber-optic cable, which became publicly usable in January 2013, replacing the old satellite backbone. From December 6–8, 2018, ETECSA rolled out mobile internet over 3G for Cuban cellphone users. By the end of 2019, an estimated 7.1 million Cubans were online in some capacity, as mobile data began to take hold. In 2023, the Arimao undersea cable, built with France’s Orange, was completed, linking Cuba to Martinique and