Cuban First Deputy Minister of Telecommunications stated that the United States government limits Cuba's connection to telecommunications networks

Havana, Aug 16 (RHC) Cuban First Deputy Minister of Communications, Wilfredo González, assured today that the United States Government prevents Cuba from connecting to international telecommunications networks through fiber optic cables.

In an interview with the Cuban News Agency, González explained that with its hostile actions, the northern nation limits Internet access to the island, the use of information, the exchange and creation of knowledge.

He stressed that the economic, commercial and financial blockade continues to hinder a better flow of information and broad access to the Internet and information and communication technologies for the Cuban people.

He recalled that in November 2022 the U.S. Department of Justice recommended that the Federal Communications Commission deny a permit for the installation of the first submarine telecommunications cable between the two nations.

Under the pretext that Havana represents a counterintelligence threat to the United States, the ARCOS-1 USA Inc. underwater cable system was then prevented from including Cuba in that network, which connects 24 landing points in 15 countries of the continent.

The Cuban official explained that since interconnections with operators cannot be made directly in North American territory, where the main interconnection nodes are located, the Cuban Telecommunications Company has to extend the network with points in the United Kingdom, Jamaica and Venezuela, which leads to executing millionaire expenses.

Despite this, he stated that the Caribbean nation is working to expand its connectivity connected to a second cable, known as Arimao, which is linked to Martinique through a landing station in the central province of Cienfuegos.

According to González, the regulations adopted by the White House for telecommunications do not provide financial credit or protection against the possible seizure of Cuban assets, both financial and equipment, and the interruption of service.

This situation also hinders the establishment of commercial relations between companies from one nation and another. (Source: PL)