How Cubans make island Internet work for them

No one would deny that Internet access has dramatically improved across much of Cuba in the last decade. But everyday Cubans without regular access to reliable Internet still struggle. The 1,095 public Wi-Fi hotspots across Cuba serve as a vital resource to connect the largest island in the Caribbean with the rest of the world. Of the various ways Cubans connect to the Internet, Wi-Fi hotspots continue to be the most popular method. It is worth noting, however, the number of Cubans who must rely on public Wi-Fi hotspots as their primary (or singular) option is dwindling.

According to the International Telecommunications Union, only 58 percent of Cubans had Internet access in 2018 and only 18 percent of the population had home-based Internet access. According to Freedom House, Cuba has one of the lowest connectivity rates in the Western Hemisphere—perhaps no surprise given that Cuban mobile data plans only launched in December 2018. Between 2015 and 2019, hourly Wi-Fi connectivity rates dropped from $4.50/hour to $1/hour. This lower price—combined with an increased number of Wi-Fi hotspots, cyber cafes, home-based Internet connections, and mobile data packages—contributed to a dramatic increase in Internet connectivity for Cubans.

It's still unclear if Cuba's Internet efforts can continue to shrink the country's digital divide, how quickly it will reach the outskirts of the country, and what impact increasing Internet access will have on its population long-term. For now, only one thing is certain: things are changing when it comes to Internet access in Cuba. And most residents are thrilled with progress thus far and eagerly anticipating even more connectivity.