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Cuba Approves First Public Wi-Fi Hub In Havana

Posted by samzenpus on from the let-the-starcraft-begin dept.

An anonymous reader writes that Havana is on the verge of getting its first public wi-fi. "Cuba's state telecom agency Etecsa has granted approval to the artist Kcho to open the country's first public wireless hub at his cultural center. Kcho, who has close ties to the Cuban government, is operating the hub using his own, government-approved internet connection, and paying approximately $900 (£600) per month to run it. Only an estimated 5% — 25% of Cubans have any type of internet service. That is because internet access is incredibly expensive. For instance, an hour of internet access at a cafe can cost $4.50 — nearly a week's wages for the average Cuban. Kcho told the Associated Press he decided to offer free internet at the center, which opened in western Havana in January, in order to encourage Cubans to familiarize themselves with the internet."

21 of 33 comments (clear)

  1. and soon to come from his twitter by nimbius · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Well the good news is Portage is ready to upgrade my Gentoo from the 2.2 to 3.17 kernel...but...jesus christ....what happened to Slashdot"

    --
    Good people go to bed earlier.
  2. Where the $900 ? by nukenerd · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I'm unclear : where exactly is this $900 per month coming from and going to ?

    1. Re:Where the $900 ? by isilrion · · Score: 5, Informative

      Here. Look under the header "ADSL". ETECSA charges $890/month for a 2048/256 Kbps link. The article implies that Kcho is paying for that out of pocket. The hotspot is free for the users. Another article I read about it gave me the impression that the artist association could be footing the cost. In either case, the $900 refer to the price of the ADSL link.

    2. Re:Where the $900 ? by isilrion · · Score: 4, Informative

      That said, the actual price Kcho or the artist association is paying has not been disclosed. If the artist association is footing the bill (either directly or as a proxy for Kcho), it may be significantly cheaper than $900. The rates in those tables are "public" rates, but government institutions often get significant discounts, such as being charged partially in CUP instead of CUC (that would be up to 25 times cheaper). I doubt they are getting any discount here, but it is possible.

    3. Re:Where the $900 ? by isilrion · · Score: 1

      What's wrong with you? Why the hostility? I even said "I doubt they are getting any discount here, but it is possible". I did not claim to know the details of his arrangement with ETECSA, why are you assuming I know? It is a fact that some government institutions pay in CUP, and Kcho's account with ETECSA is by no means normal (for starters, ETECSA doesn't sell ADSL, or any kind of connection for that matter, to Cubans, and it doesn't allow wifi without tons of paperwork and oversight). Without knowing details of his contract with ETECSA (which I suspect you may know, if you are who I think you are), I can't state anything different than that. It is possible, but unlikely. The situation is already very atypical as it is.

      Also, if you have more information, like where is this hotspot, please share. I haven't been able to find that information anywhere and it would be very useful to know.

  3. Not clear from the summary or the article by isilrion · · Score: 5, Informative

    $4.50/hour is the price the governent charges in the public internet cafes, not the price at this new hotspot. This hotspot is free. That is the news here, this is the first internet hotspot that is free and open to the public. This is not clear from the article or the summary. Both mention the official cost and that Kcho decided to make it free, but they don't mention whether he succeeded in making it free. He did.

    Kcho, whoever he is, is covering the outrageous cost of ADSL. I wonder if there is something we can do to help him.

    1. Re:Not clear from the summary or the article by gandalfu · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Kcho is a cuban artist. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K... I wouldn't be so quick to try and help him, of all the cuban artists he is among the ones with more ties to the system with many of his pieces donated to the government. https://cubaxdentro.wordpress.... Honey pot or not, is a welcome change.

    2. Re:Not clear from the summary or the article by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      His ties to the government are probably the only reason he was able to do this. Some people try to work within the system to improve it, so don't discount him right away.

    3. Re:Not clear from the summary or the article by gandalfu · · Score: 1

      Agreed.

    4. Re:Not clear from the summary or the article by gringofrijolero · · Score: 1

      Kcho, whoever he is...

      FTS:
      "Kcho, who has close ties to the Cuban government..."

      Gets you anything you want...

      --
      Todos mis movimientos están friamente calculados
  4. Re:First post - from Cuba by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    But didn't blow a lifetime's savings and declare bankruptcy over a routine medical operation.

    Swings and roundabouts, this socialism vs capitalism thing...

  5. You need government approval to set up a wifi hub by PedroDeAlvarado · · Score: 1

    That's how afraid the Cuban government is of the free flow of ideas.

  6. Nice try Cuba by Chrisq · · Score: 1

    Nice try Cuba, no cigar ... oh wait!

  7. Re:You need government approval to set up a wifi h by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    This is typical of all totalitarian regimes. Even the US is heading in that direction.

    No it isn't. The USA wants you to communicate all you want.

    They simply intend to record it all.

  8. How to get banned from the 'net in Cuba by expat4521 · · Score: 1

    A number of medical professionals in Cuba are complaining that their email accounts and access to the internet have been suspended by the government because they dared use the country’s version of Craiglist, Revolico.com. Doctors and medical workers tell the independent Cubanet’s Orlando Gonzalez that the sanctions came after they used their email addresses to place or respond to ads on the site.... http://cubanotes.com/want-to-g...

  9. Re:You need government approval to set up a wifi h by PedroDeAlvarado · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It's a fallacious comparison, and a ludicrous insult to the Cuban people who have suffered the opression of a totalitarian regime for more than fifty years.

  10. Re:You need government approval to set up a wifi h by ultranova · · Score: 2

    This is typical of all totalitarian regimes.

    It is typical of all regimes. Every regime falls short of the image they want to project. That means they depend on the mercy of their citizens, their willingness to forgive imperfection. Or they can cheat: ensure loyalty through deception - propaganda and censorship - or by turning patriotism into an outright cult that worships the nation. Sometimes this gambit works, the regime escapes control of its citizens, and usually begins lumbering from one disaster to another.

    Totalitarianism is simply the extreme form of this flaw, where the state's need for absolute loyalty overrides all other concerns. If religion is opium for the masses, then totalitarianism is heroin for their nations.

    --

    Forget magic. Any technology distinguishable from divine power is insufficiently advanced.

  11. Re: First post - from Cuba by DigiShaman · · Score: 1

    Do you honestly believe you can get proper cancer, heart, and neurosurgery in Cuba?!

    --
    Life is not for the lazy.
  12. Conan O'Brien by jones_supa · · Score: 1

    For some entertainment, there's some clips of Conan O'Brien dicking around in Cuba.

  13. Re: First post - from Cuba by isilrion · · Score: 1

    Yes.

  14. Re: First post - from Cuba by isilrion · · Score: 2

    or maybe a doctor wasnt paying attention a critical day

    By that token, that applies to every country on earth. Believe what you will. I come from a family of doctors---Cuban doctors---including, what a coincidence, a neurosurgeon and an oncologist, and I can say from experience that the answer to the question asked is a resolute "yes". Of course, that is anecdotal "evidence" and not hard data, but I didn't see you provide any data either.