Mobile communications in Cuba. How much will it cost

The long-suffering option suffers again. True, this time not its parameters, but the area of ​​​​action:

From November 30, 2016, when staying in Turkmenistan, Cuba, Maldives, Andorra, Tunisia, Seychelles, when registering in satellite systems, on sea and aircraft the discount on the Zero Without Borders option will no longer be valid, and calls and mobile internet (75 rubles per 40 KB) will be billed according to the basic international roaming rates.

Beauty! If vacationers in the Maldives, in terms of their financial capabilities, can still survive the absence of the NBG ...

That is, Tunisia traditionally remains a massive tourist destination for Russians, including middle-income and below. In Tunisia, the MTS Zero Without Borders option is needed like air conditioning in an African hotel room.

At the same time, let me remind you that the subscription fee for Zero Without Borders is now 95 rubles. per day (47.5 when connected for 10 days for bonuses).

"Free Journey"

From December 9, 2016, the cost of the option will be reduced to 190 rubles from today's 250 rubles, and the geography of its action will be expanded to 30 new directions.

Of course, speaking freely an hour a day (outgoing and incoming calls) in international roaming is very cool and showy, but the figure is 190 rubles. kind of bites too, doesn't it? For standard 12 days (average tour duration), MTS will charge you 2280 rubles for it. By God, you can always find something to spend this money on. Although... after all, now only "Free Journey" can save you from boredom in the Maldives...

"BIT Abroad"

For whom this option is needed - I do not understand at all. Unless for the oligarchs who do not want to bother with anything, including connecting to Wi-Fi or buying a local SIM card:

The line of options "BIT abroad" is the ability to access the Internet while traveling around the world at a fixed price of 300 rubles per day.

In fact, depending on the country of residence, the monthly fee per day for this Internet option will be 300-1200 rubles. But despite the decoding of the BIT - “ unlimited Internet from phone" for such money you will receive only... from 5 to 50 Mb of traffic. The exception is 14 countries where traffic is really unlimited, but after the first 100 MB, the speed is cut to 128 Kbps (for a fee of 400 rubles per day).

After the quota is exhausted Mobile Internet abroad, MTS will block you. For the removal of restrictions in a number of areas, you can use the "Turbo button", which from November 30, 2016 rises in price from 350 to 450 rubles.

While abroad, it is important to have access to mobile communications and the Internet. They may be necessary for business or personal communication, will allow you to share new experiences. Before the trip, you need to connect and activate MTS roaming abroad and one of the profitable services for savings.

How to activate roaming abroad MTS

Access to mobile communications when traveling abroad will be provided by MTS after adding 2 services to its tariff:

• "International and national roaming";
• "International access".

When adding the 1st service, the 2nd one is automatically connected. You can connect them separately only in MTS stores or when contacting a call center.

Only if you have 2 options, while abroad, you can make outgoing calls and send SMS, including to Russia.

There are 3 ways to activate roaming services:

• USSD command *111*2192# ;
• in a mobile application;
• through a call center;
• at the MTS office.

When connecting, the following conditions must be met:

• The subscriber must be an MTS client for at least six months. The amount of accruals for this period should be more than 650 rubles.
• The subscriber is a client of MTS for more than a year, the amount of accruals for none of the 12 months of the last year should be equal to 0.

When adding international roaming services mobile number must be active and have a positive balance. Both options are connected for free and no money is charged for their maintenance.

If none of the above conditions is met, then it is recommended to activate the "Easy roaming" service.

MTS tariff for calls and Internet abroad. Smart Zabugorishche

Tariff "Smart Zabugorishche" in this moment connection is not possible! Tariff archive. Use Zabugorishche service instead of this tariff.

MTS options for calls and Internet abroad

To establish mobile communications abroad, the subscriber must determine what to connect while in roaming, which MTS option will be most beneficial.

Option for roaming abroad "Zabugorishche" MTS

Option price from 320 rub/per day of use.

When connecting the Zabugorishche service to the tariffs Tariffishche, Smart Unlimited, My Unlimited, Our Smart, Smart, Smart+, Smart NonStop, X, Smart Top, "Ultra" MTS subscriber will be able to use roaming abroad at home rates. Within this service, one should distinguish between the “Popular countries” and “Other countries” options.

Popular countries: USA, Armenia, Abkhazia, Australia, Great Britain, Hungary, Greece, Germany, Denmark, Egypt, Italy, Israel, India, Spain, Canada, Qatar, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, UAE, Portugal, Romania, Turkey , Taiwan, Thailand, Ukraine, Finland, France, Czech Republic, Sweden, Switzerland, Estonia, South Korea

• Incoming calls.
  
• Outgoing calls.
  
• Internet.
  

The "Zabugorishche" option is connected by the number *111*771*1#. It is not necessary to turn it off when returning home. The fee for it is charged only when you are abroad.

Option "Zero without borders" MTS

A similar option to "Zabugorishche" is the service "Zero without Borders".

The cost of using the service is 125 rubles per day.

You can connect it:

• on the territory of Russia by the number *444#;
• MTS offers roaming abroad in 2018 by command *111*4444#

Option "Free travel" MTS

When using the "Free travel" option for all calls, communication during the first hour will be free, then a tariff of 10 rubles per minute is set. You should pay 190 rubles per day when using the "Free travel" option.

It is no longer possible to activate the service, it has become archived.

Outgoing calls from 19.9 rubles. abroad MTS

The cost of a call while abroad will be 19.9 rubles per minute if the subscriber enters *137* before dialing the number. This tariff is set only for the CIS countries, Europe and popular places visited by tourists. All other states are paid at the rate of 79 rubles per minute.

Options for MTS Internet abroad

It is important to have access to the Internet abroad. This will be of particular interest to the younger generation.

Internet option "Zabugorishche" MTS

When connecting the Zabugorishche service, the subscriber will be able to use the Internet within home package in countries that are popular with tourists.

Option price from 320 rub/per day of use.

Internet option "Bit Abroad" MTS

If a subscriber, going abroad, intends to actively use the Internet there, then for him MTS recommends connecting one of the following options to the main tariff:

• "BIT Abroad" is designed for social networks and Email. Provided 100 MB per day for top speed and then unlimited at a speed of 128 kbps. The cost is 450 rubles per day. You can connect or disconnect *111*2222#
• "Maxi BIT", in addition to the services included in the "BIT Abroad", it is possible to use maps and navigation. 200 Mb per day is provided at maximum speed and then unlimited at a speed of 128 kbps. The cost is 700 rubles per day. You can connect or disconnect *111*2223#

Internet option "SuperBit Abroad" MTS

Liberty Island is a colorful place associated with the eternal sun, the Caribbean Sea, cigars, old cars and revolutionary spirit. It is a dream vacation for many Russians. It is believed that communication in Cuba does not always work stably and is quite expensive. We will dispel all myths and tell you how things really are with the Internet and mobile communications.

The history of the emergence of communication

The first telegraph line was laid by sea from the United States to Cuba in 1867. Already in 1914, radio became more active, and 36 years later, television broadcasting began for the first time. After a successful revolution, Fidel Castro nationalized the property of many American companies. He lowered phone charges and made them more affordable.

Further development of communications was hampered by the US embargo. Soviet Union and other socialist republics provided some assistance. In 1975, the Havana-Moscow telephone line was launched.

In 1994, ETECSA S.A. was created, which became the first and only local mobile operator. She works under the name "Cubacel".

How is the connection today?

In 2000, the US Congress took some actions in relation to Cuba, in particular, nationalized the frozen account of its telephone company(the balance was at least $120 million). This led to the fact that already on December 15 of this year, the government of Liberty Island cut off telephone lines with the States.

In 2013, it was announced that a transition from analogue to digital broadcasting was planned. In terms of the internet, the island joined the Usenet network in 1992. After 4 years, ETECSA became the first provider, and in 2003, the Columbus provider joined.

Free shopping mobile devices began only in 2008, but the cost of SIM-cards was quite high. Cellular communication operates in most regions. After 5 years, 118 Internet cafes opened, which made access to the World Wide Web more accessible. So now you can contact your family while on vacation.

Mobile communications work

When planning a trip to Cuba, you should have an idea about mobile communications. Officially, there is only one telephone operator in the country. A foreigner cannot purchase a SIM card, he can only rent it for the duration of his vacation. A foreigner has the opportunity to use the following types of phone cards:

• temporary- will cost 3 dollars per day;
• constant- will cost $30 plus $10 to recharge.

If you need to rent a SIM card, take your foreign passport and head to the mobile operator's office. Some tourists simply negotiate with local residents to buy a room for a fee.

However, you can use your country's mobile operator while roaming. The cost will depend on the installed package of services. After arriving at the airport, immediately turn off any software updates on your phone, as you risk immediately losing all funds. Get ready for business interruptions.

Most Popular Providers

Cellular communications in Cuba are most reliably represented by the Cubacel mobile operator, which covers the entire territory. In fact, it is a monopolist and the only representative of urban and mobile communications services. Most of the company's shares are owned by the state. The Nauta brand responsible for internet connections is also owned by ETECSA.

The cost depends on the time of day. The normal rate (from 7 am to 10.59 pm) in 2018 is $0.35 per minute. The reduced rate, which operates at night (from 23.00 to 6.59 am), will cost $0.10 per minute.

How the internet works

Cuba has internet. In 2011, residents of Havana and other cities finally got the opportunity to use the network. A high-speed cable was laid across the sea from Venezuela. However, at that time, only employees of Cuban state-owned companies were allowed access. As of 2018, mobile Internet in Cuba is in the monopoly of ETECSA.

In 2012, many hotels began to offer Wi-Fi service, in particular, Iberostar, in order to match the level of international service. In order for it to start working, guests need to go to the reception and buy a NAUTA card. It can be inserted into any device that you have with you - phone, tablet. You can also use the computers in the hotel lobby.

Internet in Cuba can be obtained using such a card for 30 minutes or 1 hour. The card taken from the hotel shows the username and password (in Spanish usario and contresena). It will cost about $6 for half an hour and $12 for 1 hour.

As we have already mentioned, 2013 was an important year for the people of Cuba, as more than a hundred Internet cafes were opened. A year later, mobile Internet was offered to be connected in the form of cards, and soon the opportunity became available home internet. However, it has become a kind of luxury, since for 220 hours on the network you need to pay $ 60. In companies and firms in Cuba, the tariff is different - 150-200 dollars per month.

There are several places where foreigners can use Wi-Fi for free. At the embassies of Poland, the Czech Republic, Holland and Sweden, you can come twice a week for free internet. In the State Cultural Center, located in the capital, you can use Viber, Yandex and other sites, the entrance to which is free.

Tourists often buy cards to avoid queues. wireless internet at the dealers. It costs about $3 per hour on the World Wide Web. Due to technical malfunctions, the Internet can often break. Tabs and photos in browsers load slower than you are used to, and a Skype or Viber video call will be completely delayed.

How developed is television

Over the past few years, television in Cuba has experienced a revolution. It's about on the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting. According to official figures, more than 60 percent of the island's territory can already use digital television services. Soon it will be available everywhere. There are various national channels on the island, in particular, music and sports.

Sockets in Cuba are adapted to the American standard, that is, they have a flat connector that is unusual for Russians. It is best to immediately put an adapter in the suitcase. However, if you forget to bring it, you can purchase the device from duty free at the Havana airport.

In Cuba, the voltage is usually quite low - 110 volts. Phones and tablets function normally, but more powerful devices (such as hair dryers) may not work.

The cheapest calls from Russia to Cuba

To communicate with Cubans, you must press the number 8, and after the beep add 10 (this is necessary for making an international call). Then we dial the island code - 53. After it, the city code is entered (for example, in Havana it is 7) and the phone number.

In Russia, operators provide various tariffs for calls - MTS, Megafon, Beeline, Tele2, Yota. On the territory of Belarus there is an operator "Velcom", which also helps to get through to Cubans and Cubans. Through MTS you can call Cuba for 70 rubles per minute. Favorable tariff "Unlimited" from this year is no longer valid, in personal account you can find out about other relevant tariff plans. Calls via Megafon to Cuba will cost 55 rubles per minute. The price for a minute of conversation through "Beeline" is 50 rubles per minute, which is inexpensive for international calls. Calling abroad through the mobile operator "Life" will cost 30 hryvnia per minute. More up-to-date information can be found on the forums.

Tariffs in roaming

They vary depending on the operator:

You must decide which option is more suitable for you - roaming or renting a card from a local operator. In Cuba, the Internet is quite expensive, so it's better to enjoy your vacation on a paradise island and forget about all the problems.

Radio communications, fixed telephone communications, television, cellular networks and internet. At the same time, communications in Cuba, in particular the Internet and the use of mobile phones, enough expensive pleasure, which also do not always work stably. That is why roaming service from a foreign operator should be considered as a fallback option.

Internet access in Cuba

Residents of the island were able to use the Internet for the first time in 2011. A high-speed cable was pulled into the country from Venezuela. However, access to the global cyberspace at first was limited to government officials. It should be noted that the Internet mobile connection in Cuba in 2019 are operated by a single operator, ETECSA (Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba S.A. - Cuban Telecommunications Company).

Wireless Internet services at the end of 2012 began to offer many Cuban hotels. However, to access the signal, you need to purchase a prepaid NAUTA card at the hotel reception. If you don't have your own tablet or phone with you, computers can be used in the lobby area. This decision has pleased many tourists who are interested in whether there is Internet in Cuba in Varadero hotels in 2019. With the NAUTA card you can use the Internet services for 30 minutes or 1 hour. To connect to the network, you must enter the data indicated on the card: usario (login) and contresena (password). They are indicated in the scratch zone of the map (a zone with an erasable coating). The cost of the service is $12 for 1 hour and $5-6 for 30 minutes.

In 2013, 118 Internet cafes appeared in the country, providing Internet access for everyone. And in 2014, Cuban mobile Internet was offered to residents and guests of the country, also available with cards and only in the territory of special zones. In the same 2014, ETECSA announced the possibility of connecting home Internet. The cost of the service is $60 for 220 hours. $0.3 is charged for each additional hour. Of course, not everyone can afford such a luxury.

As for organizations, the monthly tariff for a dedicated line with a speed of up to 1 Mb / s is $ 150-250.

Cuban wifi networks

Paid access to a Wi-Fi signal is provided throughout the country in parks, hotels and the Ministry of Science, Technology and environment Cuba. The cost of access varies between $ 0.2-0.4, and a card is required.

The cost of wireless Internet services from ETECSA is $1.5 per hour.

Often, in order to avoid queues at ETECSA offices, residents use the services of resellers. And this is despite the fact that they sell cards twice as expensive - $ 3 each.

The Internet in Cuba is not cheap. However, even with a positive monetary balance, tourists often wonder why there is no Internet in Cuba. This is due to technical issues, due to which the signal is often interrupted. That is why the opportunity to use Internet access for free in the following places with a stable signal is so appreciated:

Where can I connect to free wireless internet in Cuba
Name of the organization	Connection conditions and restrictions
National Cultural Center in Havana, on behalf of and on the initiative of its director and artist Kcho	No time limit. All interested citizens and guests of the country
SINA (US Representative Office)	1 time per week. All interested citizens and guests of the country
Embassies of Sweden, the Netherlands, Poland, the Czech Republic	2 hours per week. All interested citizens and guests of the country

Internet cafe services in Cuba

Internet cafes in Cuba are small cozy establishments with tables where you can connect to the Internet by purchasing the appropriate card. The cost of services in recent years has been reduced from $4.50 to $2, but it is still very high for most people in the country, whose average income is about $20 per month.

One of the conditions for the provision of services, as with the purchase of a card for wireless Internet, is the signing of an agreement, which states that the user undertakes not to perform actions that may be regarded as harmful or posing a threat to the public security of the country.

Despite the many restrictions and high costs, progressive Cubans have already learned how to use the power of e-mail to provide services and run small businesses, such as ordering goods at home or calling a taxi.

Telephone operators in Cuba

In Cuba, only one company provides fixed and mobile telephone services, as well as the Internet - ETECSA (Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba S.A. - Cuban Telecommunications Company). This state monopoly has been maintained for many years.

The organization began its work in 1996 and is currently 27% owned by Rafin SA and the rest by the Cuban Ministry of Information and Communication.

Under the jurisdiction of the company is the local mobile telephone system Cubacel and Internet access under the Nauta brand. Internet and telephone calls in Cuba are paid in convertible Cuban pesos.

The operator provides two types of tariffs: prepaid (prepago) for individuals and legal entities and with payment by invoice (pospago) only for legal entities.

Comparative analysis of the work of cellular operators in Cuba

Going on a trip to Cuba, you should keep in mind that there is only one public telephone operator in the country and only persons with Cuban citizenship can purchase its cards. True, foreign citizens can rent local cards, but we will talk about this below.

However, in Cuba, the signals of other mobile operators are available in roaming mode. What cellular cheaper in Cuba in Varadero and other regions, largely depends on the user's service package.

Upon arrival in Cuba, it is urgent to turn off automatic update programs and applications on your phone - otherwise, the update processes will cause a serious blow to your account balance due to the high cost of roaming.

Many tourists have a question about which connection is better in Cuba. Mobile devices with 3G and 4G are more stable than others in the country. However, interruptions in access are possible for everyone and always.

The most reliable is the mobile connection provided by the local operator ETECSA under the Cubacel brand. Its coverage area is almost the entire territory of the country. The communication standards provided are GSM (850/900 MHz) and TDMA (800 MHz). As mentioned above, at the moment all available mobile operators in Cuba are exclusively Cubacel.

International communication services in Cuba

To make an international call from Cuba, you do not need to connect Additional services– for this purpose, it is enough to dial a phone number in the international format: +<код страны> <код города> <номер телефона>.

3G-4G networks are stably available almost everywhere in the country.

Now that the internet has arrived in Cuba, it is possible to communicate internationally via Skype. In this case, you will need to pay only for Internet traffic. The volume of traffic for voice communication is 0.5 Mb/min., the amount of traffic for video calls is 5 Mb/min. In addition, communication is available via Viber, WhatsUp or SIP-telephony. However, many social networks will be inaccessible due to blocking access to them in the country. You can chat without restrictions in social networks from the territory of foreign embassies.

Features of local communications in Cuba

To make a call to Cuba, dial a number in the following format: +53<код города> <номер телефона>.

Fixed and mobile telephony services are provided state company ETECSA.

As of 2019, the rates for calls from a local operator are as follows:

• the normal rate is $0.35;
• the reduced rate is $0.10.

The rate depends on the time of the call:

• normal: from 7.00 to 22.59;
• reduced: from 23.00 to 6.59.

SMS rates are as follows:

• the territory of the country - $ 0.09;
• abroad - $ 1;
• premium access by short numbers - $0.16.

International rates per minute: $1.60 (USA, Canada, Venezuela, Mexico, South and Central America, Caribbean) and $1.80 (other regions).

To take over the cost of incoming calls, dial *88 before the number, then your relatives will not have to pay for calls with you.

SIM cards and their maintenance in Cuba

Local SIM cards can only be purchased by Cuban citizens. However, for foreign citizens such a service as room rental is available. At the same time, two types of telephone line activation are provided for foreigners:

1. Temporary - $ 3 per day;
2. Permanent - $30 + $10 for the first recharge.

To rent a room, you will need to visit the operator's office and present your passport. Many tourists do not want to leave their details in local systems prefer to negotiate the purchase of a SIM card with local residents. The fee for this service is negotiable.

Electricity, sockets and voltage in Cuba

The standard mains voltage in Cuba is 110 volts. The sockets are adapted to the American standard (flat connector), so it is recommended to stock up on an adapter. A universal adapter can be purchased from Duty Free shops upon arrival in the country.

Most of the equipment (laptops, tablets or phones) at low voltage demonstrate performance. However, powerful appliances such as a hair dryer or electric shaver may not work.

Communications in Cuba: Video

Now all the hopes of the Cubans are directed to Venezuela, which finances the construction of an optical cable between its territory and Cuba. It is believed that this will lead to the acceleration and cheapening of the Cuban Internet.

In addition, Barack Obama recently signed a law that allows Cuba to join the US optical cables passing close to its shores. True, the reaction of the Cuban government to this permission is still unknown.

A few months ago, Cubans were allowed free entry to cybercafes on hotel grounds. However, this news is unlikely to make them happier, since the Internet is sold in Cuba at the price of gold. One hour of connecting to the global network here costs an average of 6-10 CUC (convertible pesos), or $ 8-12, which is equivalent to the salary of an average worker for 15 days. Thus, 30 hours a month will cost one Cuban 180 CUC - the amount of his earnings for a year and a half. That is why, despite the official permission, few people in Cuba today can get real access to the Internet. Unless on the "black" market, where 1 hour on the world wide web costs 2 convertible pesos, or in some post offices where there are computers, at a rate of $ 1.5 / hour.

In addition to sky-high prices, there is constant censorship and site filtering by the government in Cuba, as well as restrictions and strict surveillance of users.

Internet in Havana, Varadero and other cities

Most Havana residents connect to the Internet once a week at the United States Mission (SINA), whose office is located next to the Havana waterfront. Its employees provide the public with free and censorship-free navigation of the global web.
Other information-hungry Havanese are served by the embassies of the Netherlands, Sweden, Poland and the Czech Republic, which offer 2 free internet hours per week. The Capitol of Havana, which sheltered the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment, provides a connection to the network, although not free, but still cheaper than in hotels or a cyber cafe: 5 CUC per hour.

Many hotels in Havana have access to the Internet and Wi-Fi. So, in Hotel Saratoga one hour online costs 10 CUC ($12), two hours - 15 CUC. Here you will also find 24-hour Wi-Fi. In total, the hotel has 3 computers available to tourists from 8 am to 5 pm. Although if you have your own laptop and a card purchased in advance at the hotel, you can connect to the Internet at any time.

At the Central Park Hotel, the cost of 1 hour on the network is 8 CUC ($ 10), 5 hours - 35 CUC ($ 40). Navigation speed ranges from 60 to 80 kilobytes.

Most fast internet you will find at the Meliá Cohiba. Its speed reaches 120 kilobytes. Using a state-owned computer costs 10 CUC / hour, and you will have to pay 12 CUC ($ 15) to work on your own laptop with a Wi-Fi connection.

In almost all hotels in Havana, prices for one hour of internet fluctuate between 8 and 10 CUC. Even though the navigation speed has improved a little in the last year, it is still not enough for downloading large files and videos. There are hotels in Old Havana where Internet access cards cost 6 CUC per hour, but the connection is very poor. In addition, they use software called Avila, which is rumored to be a spyware that copies user accounts or blog passwords.

Other hotels with internet connection and Wi-Fi in Havana - Chateau (Miramar), Montehabana (Miramar), Panorama (Miramar), Occidental Miramar, Sevilla Hotel (Old Havana), National (Vedado), Hotel Habana Libre (Vedado), Hotel Inglaterra (Old Havana), Hotel Nacional (Vedado).
In Varadero - Sandal Royal Hicacos and Barcelo Solymar, in Santiago - Melia Santiago, in Guardalavaca - Paradisus Rio de Oro, in Trinidad - Grand Hotel.
Internet access in Cuba is also possible at the offices of the telecommunications companies Etecsa and Citmatel, in the business centers of the Palco and Neptuno hotels, in the Gallery of Cities of the World in Havana (Galería Ciudades del Mundo).

Mobile 3G

Mobile phones with 3G generally work well in Cuba, except for the internet captcha, which sometimes gets caught and sometimes doesn't. Moreover, no one knows what it depends on. Best Operator communications - Cubacel. The only problem is the cost of calls and SMS.
Sending one message will cost you about 1 euro, and a minute telephone conversation- from 3 euros (depending on the Russian operator). As for roaming, it is better to turn it off altogether due to too high prices and the future invoice, which, upon returning home, can be much larger than usual ...