Communications in Cuba: Twelve Months to Connect with the Future

On May 30, the Cuban Telecommunications Company (Etecsa) announced an increase in mobile data access rates, the most significant event in the communications sector in 2025.

As part of the implementation, national top-ups were established up to 360 Cuban pesos for prepaid mobile service users for a 30 day-period , as well as the use of data plans from any network.

Although the measure was intended to sustain telecommunications services, improve their quality, and promote the technological development of society, it was not well received by the public and provoked expressions of popular discontent.

From March 11 to 13, the World Summit of the International Telecommunication Union was held at the Meliá Internacional Hotel in Varadero, bringing together young people from around the world to discuss the challenges and opportunities of emerging technologies.

The Summit addressed crucial topics such as the digital empowerment of new generations, bridging the digital skills gap, artificial intelligence (AI), and the sustainability and impact of transformative technologies.

Subsequently, on March 17, the first Meeting of Ministers of Information and Social Communication, held within the context of the 4th International Colloquium Patria, proved highly significant.

In April, three sectoral programs were presented to promote the application of science, technology, and innovation within the Ministry of Communications (Mincom) for the period 2026-2030, thus ensuring the continuity of other initiatives of the agency.

In the second half of the year, Cuban entities intensified their efforts to strengthen the objectives of the policy for Digital Transformation, the Cuban Digital Agenda, and the Strategy for the Development and Use of AI in the country.

August also hosted the 21st Caribbean Internet Governance Forum (CIGF), held at the Meliá Internacional Varadero hotel convention center, where the will of the largest of the Antilles to continue advancing towards the digital transformation of society was ratified.

The event, which brought together experts, academics, technologists, and youth leaders both in person and virtually, provided an update on the Cuban and regional perspective regarding the management of issues related to digital transformation.

It also addressed the integration of information technologies into the national contexts of countries facing the challenge of development under conditions of resilience due to the effects of the current economic order, climate change, and the cumulative impacts of these on the economies of small island nations.

From November 20 to 30, the 4th National Cybersecurity Conference was held with the aim of raising public awareness about the importance of this practice in daily and professional life.

It included the National Cybersecurity Workshop, as well as technical workshops, cyberattack response simulations, and campaigns on various platforms.

November marked an important moment for the Ministry of Communications (Mincom) with its participation in the 41st Havana International Fair, held from November 24 to 29 at the Expocuba fairgrounds.

The event was the epicenter of innovative AI solutions developed in the archipelago, among which “Cecilia” stood out. This project is dedicated to building the country's generative AI ecosystem using a national language model.

During the closing day of the Caribbean nation's largest trade event, the Grand Prize for Best Stand was awarded to IA Cuba, from the Ministry of Communications (Mincom), in recognition of the meticulous attention to detail in the exhibition space and its conceptual coherence.

In early December, the e-commerce platform Enzona launched two new versions designed to strengthen digital management and user interaction through superior transaction efficiency and real-time decision-making. Meanwhile, the Cuban Collaborative Encyclopedia on the Web (EcuRed) celebrated its 15th anniversary on the 14th of that month.
The Young Computer Clubs received congratulations from Mincom on social media for their hard work in positioning this digital reference platform as the most visited in the country.

Ernesto Soberón Guzmán, Cuba's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, denounced on December 18, during the High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly, the limitations imposed on Cuba's access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).
He also acknowledged that these technologies play an essential role in development, although their positive impact remains precarious in developing countries.

The 20th International Convention and Fair, Informática 2026, was also announced. It will take place from March 24 to 27 at the Havana Convention Center and the Pabexpo fairgrounds, under the theme "Digital Transformation for Sustainable Development."

Throughout 2025, the sector represented a significant factor for Cuba, as communications ceased to be merely a bridge between people and became an engine of sustainable development and Cuban cultural identity.