Cubans line up in front of a Havana Internet Café on Obispo street in Old Havana.
Besides the dual currency system in Cuba, there's a dual internet system too.
HAVANA INTRANET
This is the "internet" for Cubans and they can only use it for sending and receiving text messages.
All other internet facilities such as search engines (Google, Yahoo) or foreign websites are
blocked with filters and firewalls.
The intranet is accessible in the public internet cafés, subsidiaries of the state owned
Cuban Post Office ( Correos de Cuba).
CUBA INTERNET - HAVANA INTERNET
Cuba counts 240,000 internet users (source: CIA Factbook)
Private citizens are prohibited from accessing the internet without a special authorization.
This authorization is only granted for professional, educational or business use.
Some Cubans buy illegal passwords on the blackmarket to get access to the internet.
Foreigners may access the Havana internet in the tourist hotels. The Havana Internet is a limited bandwidth service,
slow and expensive ( 8-10 US $ for one hour) because the communication goes through satelite and the
bandwidth is limited.
The faster cable transmission is blocked by the US due to the
Cuban economic trade embargo.
HAVANA INTERNET CAFE'S
The Cyber café in the Capitolio, Central Havana, side entrance (lefthand side) has 10-12
computers available. The identity of the users is checked.
All major tourist hotels in Havana have internet access for their clients. (hotel Havana Libre, hotel Nacional, hotel Inglaterra, hotel Parque Central)
Normally at a cost of
8-10 USD for one hour.
Citmatel
address: O'Reilly and Tacon street
Old Havana
Etecsa
International Press Center
23th and O street
Vedado Havana
BLOGGERS IN HAVANA CUBA
The Cuban Government holds a firm grip on the internet access, but brave bloggers like
YOANI SANCHEZ dare to post critics about the life in Havana on her blog named
Generacion Y
( http://www.desdecuba.com/generaciony )
With limited (illegal) and expensive access (8 USD /Hr) she has to be inventive and prepares
her columns about the daily life in Havana on a flash memory stick.
In the age of communication and technology there are no limits on the distribution of opinions she says.
How can I make an Cuban email address with .CU extension?
The .cu extension is for exclusive Cuban use and can not be made from abroad like for example a Yahoo, G-mail or Hotmail address.
To make an email address with a .cu extension the Cuban citizen has to go to a Cuban internet cafe or Correo de Cuba office (Cuban Post office) and show his Cuban identity card (carné de identidad) and ask for an email address.
A typical Cuban email address might be for example: julio4879@correodecuba.cu or mariela2001@correodecuba.cu
Cubans working in the medical or educational sector (universities)
can get an email address at their work room.
INTERNET RATES IN HAVANA
for people who can afford internet in Cuba, the monthly rate
is more than one year salary for the average Cuban
Havana's famous blogger Yoani Sanchez
WSJ Interview with Havana blogger Yoani Sanchez of GeneracionY
