The restrictions of communications from Cuba to the rest of the world are still very limited. Although the Cuban government has made some small changes in mobile rates and internet connections, the restrictions are still very palpable and the people cannot easily access to the internet.

All of the communications are handed by ETECSA, the Cuban telecommunications company. This is the only company that provide communications in Cuba and therefore a monopoly that controls the call rates for land lines and mobile phones, also internet connections and the rest of communication services. The company installs land lines and keeps a network of public phones available in many places.

You may have heard about the real restrictions on communications with the exterior in Cuba. The country has peculiar regulations for the usage of communications. These restrictions are been relaxing and tourists have some resources for communicating with the rest of the world during their stay. This guide explains the different communication ways available, prices and related issues.

Most of the communication is handed by ETECSA, the Cuban telecommunications company. This monopoly controls the call rates for land lines and mobile phones, also internet connections and the rest of communication services. The company installs land lines and keeps a network of public phones available in many places.

Emergency Numbers

Police: 106
Ambulance: 105

Cell Phones Services

The former company face for cell phones in Cuba was named Cubacel, this was a division of ETECSA, but few month ago the name Cubacel disappear and all the Mobile Services are handed by Etecsa. This is the same thing, nothing changes but the name. Etecsa still sells cell phones, lines and offers international roaming for certain carriers.

Mobile telephony in Cuba works on GSM 900 MHz country-wide and GSM 850 MHz in La Habana, Varadero, Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo.

The Cuban cell phone numbers has 8 digits and starts by 5.

With Cuban cell phones you can call to national numbers, international numbers and have roaming services.

Calling to a national number

From cell phone to cell phone: dial the 8 digits cell phone number (i.e. 52642266)
From cell phone to land line: dial the city code + phone number (i.e. 45 615555)
From land line to cell phone: dial 0 (from Havana city) or 01 (from the rest of the cities) + the 8 digits cell phone number

Check the list of all Cuban cities codes to call from a cell phone to a land line.

Calling to international numbers

From Cuban cell phone to an outside number: dial 119 + Country code (the code of the country you are calling) + desired phone number (i.e. 119 1 123 456 7890)
From an outside phone to a Cuban cell phone: International outgoing code + Cuba code (53) + desire 8 digits cell phone number
To send an international SMS (cost $1.00): Dial 119 + Country code + desired phone number

Call rates

National calls (between cell phones): $0.35 per minute for the caller and free of charge for the receiver. ($0.10 from 11:00 pm to 6:59 am)
National calls (between a cell phone and a land line): $0.35 per minute if you call to a land line and $0.35 per minute if you receive from a land line. ($0.10 from 11:00 pm to 6:59 am)

International calls from cell phones (Receiving an international call is free of charge):

• To North America, Central America, South America (except Venezuela) and the Caribbean: $1.60 CUC per minute
• Venezuela: $1.40 CUC per minute
• Rest of the world: $1.80 CUC per minute

SMS rate is $0.09 CUC for national numbers and $1.00 CUC for international numbers. Receiving an SMS is free of charge.

For international calls you can call from the cellphone or from a public phone.
For use public phones you can buy a prepaid card called “Propias” (in CUC) from any ETECSA facility and rates are different:

• To North America (USA and Canada), Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean: $1.40 CUC per minute
• Venezuela: $1.00 CUC per minute
• Rest of South America: $1.40 CUC per minute
• Rest of the world: $1.50 CUC per minute

Tip: It’s cheaper to make international calls using a propia prepaid card and a public phone than using a cell phone.

Tourist cell phone rental

Tourists can rent a temporary mobile line for a 45 days period that can be extended up to 6 months for: $3.00 CUC per day + $6.00 CUC per day if you also rent a cell phone (this is optional because you can bring your own phone but be sure is unlocked and that works on GSM 900 MHz). To recharge your phone you can buy prepaid cards from $5.00 or $10.00 or directly at an Etecsa office for the amount you want.

In order to rent a phone line you will need to present your passport and your original identity document from your country.

The phone rental can be made at the airport station (if an Etecsa office is available) or at any Etecsa office at every city and municipality.

International Roaming

There are 342 roaming agreements in 139 countries. You can get international roaming services if your carrier has business with Etecsa, refer to the Roaming Agreement list by Countries for more information. You are in international roaming if you come to Cuba using your original country cell phone.

Roaming IN: Service automatically offered to the tourists that visit the country but has to be activated by the client in his original network. The rates and conditions are informed to the customer by his network operator.

For more information about the international roaming you can call customer service: +53 5264 2266

Roaming OUT: Service offered to postpaid clients when travelling outside the country.

Canada:
local calls: $0.80 CUC,
make international call: $2.25 CUC,
receive international call: $1.60 CUC

United States:
local calls: $0.80 CUC,
make international call: $2.90 CUC
receive international call: $1.85

Central America, México and Caribe:
local calls: $0.85 CUC,
make international call: $2.50 CUC
receive international call: $1.60

South America:
local calls: $0.90 CUC,
make international call: $2.75 CUC,
receive international call: $1.60 CUC

Rest of the world:
local calls: $1.25 CUC,
make international call: $3.25 CUC,
receive international call: $1.80 CUC

Email service @nauta.cu

Cubans has now the opportunity to activate an email account to send/receive national and international emails for $1.00 CUC per 1 MB.

The activation fee is $1.50 CUC. You need to provide your name, address, username and password. This account will be activated for 360 days after this year you need to pay $1.50 again.

To configure your phone settings for send/receive emails with the nauta.cu account please visit an Etecsa facilities, they will do it for free.

Land Line services

The land lines are installed in Cuban homes and companies by Etecsa and allows national and international calls (if the service is activated by the owner).

Almost all rent houses have land lines and you request the service if is offered by the rent house owners (sometimes for an additional fee).

The quantity of land line number digits varies depending on the city and municipality. You need to know the city code when calling to a number in Cuba and the desired phone number.

Calling to a national number

From land line to land line in the same municipality: dial desired number (no need of city code)
From land line to land line in different municipalities or cities: dial the city code (the code of the desired city) + desired number (no need of city code)
From land line to cell phone: dial 0 (from Havana city) or 01 (from the rest of the cities) + the 8 digits cell phone number

Check the list of all Cuban cities codes to call from a cell phone to a land line.

Calling to international numbers

From Cuban land line phone to an outside number: dial 119 + Country code (the code of the country you are calling) + Local code (if applicable) + desired phone number (i.e. 119 1 123 456 7890)
From an outside phone to a Cuban land line number: International outgoing code + Cuba code (53) + city code + desire land line phone number

Call rates

International calls from land line phones (Receiving an international call is free of charge):

• To North America, Central America, South America (except Venezuela) and the Caribbean: $1.40 CUC per minute
• Venezuela: $1.00 CUC per minute
• Rest of the world: $1.50 CUC per minute

Internet Access

Internet access is a kind of a complex issue. The country has problems for accessing the internet, this is attributed to the U.S. embargo, economic limitations and many other political and practical issues, not covered in this site. As a tourist you will be able to use any navigation room in airports, Etecsa offices or other facilities. If you’re staying in a hotel you can use the hotel’s internet and you will be charged for this, while staying in a rent house you can’t use internet in the house, there is not such a service for Cuban homes yet so a rent house can’t offer you internet access most of the times.

Recently new navigations facilities are open to tourist, residents and Cuban citizen to access to the internet. These facilities are located in airports, hotels, touristic places and Etecsa offices.

In order to request this service you need to show your passport (if you are a tourist) or identity card (if you are Cuban or temporary resident).

The regular price in a navigation room is:

• Internet navigation - $4.50/hour
• Internet navigation - $4.50/hour
• International email (@nauta.cu) and national navigation – $1.50/hour
• National navigation - $0.60/hour

The initial fee to activate an account is as minimum for an hour of connection. For example if you want internet navigation you should pay at least for one hour ($4.50) the first time you use the account.

In the case you activate the international email account with the domain @nauta.cu you can also configure your phone to receive emails with this account. The cost of the emails in the phone is $1.00 CUC per 1 MB (for incoming and sending messages).

Conclusion

• Tourists can rent a line for $3.00 CUC per day
• International calls can be made from cell phones or public phones by buying a prepaid card
• It is better to make international calls using a prepaid card than a cell phone
• Internet access is limited and available only from certain ETECSA's facilities