Cuba USA
Would the Cuban government be willing to test a few low-speed satellite links that were not controlled by ETECSA?
I had an interesting exchange with a reader this week. He took exception to my assertion that the sorry state of the Internet in Cuba today has its roots in three factors -- the US embargo, Cuba's depressed economy during the "special period" after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the Cuban government's fear of free information.
He agreed with the first two points, but asserted that the third was speculation on my part. I replied that during the early days of the Internet, government officials, including Raúl Castro, argued that freeing of information had contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union. I also asked him why, if they did not fear free information, wouldn't today's government allow private citizens to establish satellite connections?
In an earlier post, I said that, even if the government were willing, Cuba could not afford to cover the island with modern Internet infrastructure or attract foreign investment to do so. (Even if they could attract the foreign investment, I would hate to see Cuba's Internet future in the hands of companies like AT&T and Comcast).
In that post, I suggested that decentralized satellites could serve as an affordable first (interim) step on the way to a modern Internet. If the government is not afraid of free information, would they allow a small pilot study to see if satellites work, how people use them and what the costs and benefits are?
For example, would they give permission to install a few satellite dishes -- perhaps on a residential street or in a school, clinic or Joven Club in a rural area?
The cost would be small -- I would be willing to cover a year of satellite service out of my own pocket (or better through Kickstarter funding). It would be an interesting project and help settle the question raised by my reader.
- Can We Now Do A Satellite Access Pilot In Cuba?
I have suggested short and long-run steps the government of Cuba could take if, as they claim, they wish to improve Internet access. One of my short-term suggestions was to allow private entrepreneurs to sell satellite Internet connectivity. (Retail telecommunications...
- The Possibility Of A Uniquely Cuban Internet
This post is not about what I think will happen, but to begin discussion of what the Cuban government could do if the goal were to provide a modern, open Internet with affordable (free in some cases?) access. The Cuban Internet is in a sorry state. Freedom...
- Cuban Government Support Of The Weekly "packages"
Cuban blogger Isbel Diaz Torres has written a two part post on the information "packages" that are distributed each week in Cuba. In part one, he lists 12 factors that lead him to believe that the Cuban government may be behind these weekly packages....
- Officials Say Cuba Is Not Afraid Of New Technology -- They Just Lack The Funds
Wilfredo Gonzalez and Abel PrietoA recent Cuba Sí post quotes Cuban officials saying that money, not fear is responsible for the sad state of the Cuban Internet. Presidential adviser Abel Prieto told a group of Havana University students that the...
- Could Google Provide Internet Access In Cuba?
The obstacles are political, not technical Eric Schmidt and other Google executives traveled to Cuba where they met with members of the Internet community and the government. Google is providing Internet access in a few US Cities and is considering others...
Cuba USA
A modest connectivity pilot proposal
I had an interesting exchange with a reader this week. He took exception to my assertion that the sorry state of the Internet in Cuba today has its roots in three factors -- the US embargo, Cuba's depressed economy during the "special period" after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the Cuban government's fear of free information.
He agreed with the first two points, but asserted that the third was speculation on my part. I replied that during the early days of the Internet, government officials, including Raúl Castro, argued that freeing of information had contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union. I also asked him why, if they did not fear free information, wouldn't today's government allow private citizens to establish satellite connections?
In an earlier post, I said that, even if the government were willing, Cuba could not afford to cover the island with modern Internet infrastructure or attract foreign investment to do so. (Even if they could attract the foreign investment, I would hate to see Cuba's Internet future in the hands of companies like AT&T and Comcast).
In that post, I suggested that decentralized satellites could serve as an affordable first (interim) step on the way to a modern Internet. If the government is not afraid of free information, would they allow a small pilot study to see if satellites work, how people use them and what the costs and benefits are?
For example, would they give permission to install a few satellite dishes -- perhaps on a residential street or in a school, clinic or Joven Club in a rural area?
The cost would be small -- I would be willing to cover a year of satellite service out of my own pocket (or better through Kickstarter funding). It would be an interesting project and help settle the question raised by my reader.
- Can We Now Do A Satellite Access Pilot In Cuba?
I have suggested short and long-run steps the government of Cuba could take if, as they claim, they wish to improve Internet access. One of my short-term suggestions was to allow private entrepreneurs to sell satellite Internet connectivity. (Retail telecommunications...
- The Possibility Of A Uniquely Cuban Internet
This post is not about what I think will happen, but to begin discussion of what the Cuban government could do if the goal were to provide a modern, open Internet with affordable (free in some cases?) access. The Cuban Internet is in a sorry state. Freedom...
- Cuban Government Support Of The Weekly "packages"
Cuban blogger Isbel Diaz Torres has written a two part post on the information "packages" that are distributed each week in Cuba. In part one, he lists 12 factors that lead him to believe that the Cuban government may be behind these weekly packages....
- Officials Say Cuba Is Not Afraid Of New Technology -- They Just Lack The Funds
Wilfredo Gonzalez and Abel PrietoA recent Cuba Sí post quotes Cuban officials saying that money, not fear is responsible for the sad state of the Cuban Internet. Presidential adviser Abel Prieto told a group of Havana University students that the...
- Could Google Provide Internet Access In Cuba?
The obstacles are political, not technical Eric Schmidt and other Google executives traveled to Cuba where they met with members of the Internet community and the government. Google is providing Internet access in a few US Cities and is considering others...