Cuba is the country with the lowest Internet penetration in the entire world: only 5% of the population is connected. Private households need a government permit to access the network and fees of 900 dollars per month are paid. That is about to change with the first fiber optic deployment in Havana.
The Telecommunications Company of Cuba has announced a pilot program to bring a broadband service to homes in Old Havana, the oldest area of the capital. Huawei will be responsible for the installation of the fiber, which can be requested by the cafeterias, bars and restaurants in the area as well as by private individuals. The authorities have not yet announced the deployment deadlines or the price of connections (the average salary in Cuba is $ 25 per month).
The reestablishment of relations with the United States was a message that things are changing Cuba. The island lives these days an important entry of dollars and the approach to new economic model. More and more WiFi hotspots are seen in parks and public places, but so far only some professionals such as doctors and diplomats had an Internet connection in their homes. [via The Verge]