The Cuban Telecommunications Company (ETECSA) announced a raffle for a smartwatch when making an international recharge, in celebration of Mother's Day. However, with the instability of the connection and phone service in Cuba, the winner will hardly be able to enjoy the gift.
On its website, the telecommunications monopoly announced that this Sunday, May 11, it will give away a Mobo Active MBGPS-1 smartwatch to the winner of the raffle.
"On the upcoming May 11, Mother’s Day in Cuba, we will be rewarding at each Territorial Directorate (DT) the 1105 customer who receives an international recharge associated with the “MULTIPLIQUE X12 + UNLIMITED DATA” promotion. The prize will be a Mobo Active MBGPS-1 smart watch, a useful, modern, and special gift, designed for those who give their all without asking for anything in return," said the company.
When conducting the drawing, ETESA will contact the winner by phone, to notify them that they are the lucky one.
To win the prize, the interested party must be the customer number 1105 in their territory to receive, on May 11, an international recharge from the promotion "MULTIPLY X12 + UNLIMITED DATA." The recharge will only be through the company's international distributors "from 00:00 to 23:59 hours, Cuba time."
"Once notified by the company, the holder of the mobile line who received the recharge must go, with their personal identification, after 48 hours and before 30 days, to the commercial office that has been indicated via phone," states the announcement.
Dozens of Cubans have criticized ETECSA's promotions for commemorative dates on social media, claiming that these initiatives only benefit customers with access to foreign currencies and that the connection is getting worse.
The internet and regular calls are down; sometimes when I call, it says the line is busy, out of coverage, or even disconnected. They are playing at being inventors and scientists, and the money with which one buys the packages is worthless. Do they realize they are impostors and communists for convenience, for little favors and perks?" wrote a person in the post of the company that promoted the current giveaway.
Several people reported that since this Thursday, the recharge for Mother's Day had been made, but it hadn’t gone through: "There’s a delay with the recharge that was paid for yesterday, and they are going to give it away, I don’t think so."
ETECSA has decided to implement payments in dollars to generate more revenue from abroad. This year, the executive president, Tania Velázquez, noted that foreign currency resources are "vital" for improving service quality and settling international debts, given that the current dollar revenue represents only 10% of the total.
Frequently Asked Questions about the ETECSA Raffle and Connectivity in Cuba
What does the ETECSA raffle for Mother's Day involve?
ETECSA will raffle a Mobo Active MBGPS-1 smartwatch to customer number 1105 who receives an international recharge on May 11, as part of the promotion "MULTIPLY X12 + UNLIMITED DATA."
What are the criticisms of ETECSA's promotions from Cubans?
Cubans criticize that ETECSA's promotions only benefit those who have access to foreign currency, while the connection service remains unstable. It is noted that access to the Internet and calls is inadequate, with issues related to coverage and connectivity.
Why is ETECSA implementing payments in foreign currency?
ETECSA seeks to generate more income in foreign currency to improve service quality and pay international debts, as only 10% of its current revenue comes from foreign currency.
How does the electricity crisis affect telecommunications services in Cuba?
The electrical crisis in Cuba is causing blackouts that directly affect telecommunications, leaving a large part of the population without access to calls, messages, or the internet, due to the lack of energy backup in ETECSA's radio bases.
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