A new promotion for international recharge launched by ETECSA to celebrate Father's Day has sparked a wave of criticism among Cubans both inside and outside the country, accusing the state telecommunications company of emotionally manipulating emigrants and excluding those who do not receive remittances. Discontent has erupted on social media upon learning the prices and conditions of the offer.
Gold price offer
From June 9 to 15, ETECSA offers 25 GB for all networks and unlimited browsing during the early morning for 35 days. However, to access this "promotion," family members abroad must pay 65.99 USD for a recharge of 1,500 CUP. The minimum price for any international recharge during this period is 21.99 USD for just 500 CUP.
For many Cubans, the equation doesn’t make sense. “In Cuba, that offer would cost about 5,000 CUP, which at the unofficial exchange rate would be around 12.5 USD. But ETECSA charges 22 USD abroad. Where's the profit in that?”, added a user.
Far from generating enthusiasm, the campaign has been met with outrage. Several internet users have called for a boycott directly. “No one should recharge!”, “That offer is useless”, “Don’t be accomplices of abuse”. Others demanded the return of previous, more affordable promotions: “Where is the one for 6,000 fixed? That one was actually useful”.
The strongest criticism lies in the disconnection between the offerings and the economic reality of the majority. “I can’t afford that, I'd rather take the money and buy food,” commented one person.
Another user was more direct: "The lack of shame is a clear symptom of the regime's desperation to obtain dollars. Say how much you want, take it ALL, but let the people LIVE!”
The comments also reflect the frustration of those who have no one to send them money from abroad. “What about those of us who have no one outside? Do we not exist?”, complained an internet user. “Enough with offering services in foreign currency. We live here in pesos”, pointed out another Cuban.
The offer is not only seen as abusive, but also as a cruel reminder of the inequalities that define access to connectivity on the island. The possibility of being connected depends on the financial means of someone living abroad.
With this promotion, ETECSA seems to continue betting on the collection model via emigration, taking advantage of sensitive dates like Father's Day to encourage transfers. However, the strategy is starting to show signs of fatigue. Many Cubans no longer see these promotions as assistance but rather as emotional blackmail disguised under the label of "gift."
“Remember that turning the screw doesn't mean that there will always be threads”, warned a commentator. And with the growing public discontent, it seems that those threads are becoming increasingly worn.
The measure comes just days after the executive president of ETECSA, Tania Velázquez, acknowledged in the official podcast "Desde la Presidencia" that the average income per mobile line in Cuba fell from 133 dollars in 2018 to just 31 dollars in 2024.
The official attributed this decline to “fraud” and the “hijacking of international top-ups”, indirectly blaming users for seeking more affordable top-up alternatives within the country.
Outrage is not limited to the international recharge market. Within the country itself, the new national prices, known as the "tarifazo," have sparked public protests, even in traditionally silenced spaces, such as universities.
Young people have reported a lack of transparency, insufficient citizen consultation, and the violation of the right to connectivity. In their statement, they even demanded the resignation of the national president of the Federation of University Students (FEU), Ricardo Rodríguez, for not firmly defending the students' demands.
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