Bienvenido a Cuba!

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As tensions ease between Cuba and the U.S., Verizon Wireless spreads its wings and is now the first U.S. wireless carrier to offer roaming throughout Cuba. “Our customers are citizens of the world, and we want them to seamlessly enjoy a great Verizon experience wherever they travel,” said Javier Farfan, vice president of cultural and segment marketing for Verizon. “By offering international services while traveling in Cuba, we are making it simple and easy for our customers to stay connected wherever and whenever they choose.” However, this does not mean Verizon’s been building towers. Instead, they have partnered with ETESCA, a telecom company owned by the Cuban government that has a monopoly on all telecom services.

“Right now it’s for U.S.-based Verizon customers who travel to Cuba,” Chuck Hamby, a Verizon Wireless spokesperson, told Motherboard, an online news outlet. “We’re using [Cuba’s] entire network, which is a 2G network, for clarity’s sake.” This is a big move for the Cuban government as this is the first time ETESCA has partnered with an American company. “History has shown us that the evolution of wireless networks comes pretty darn quickly when you start,” Hamby said. “I don’t know what international relations will hold for the future of this, but it’s certainly a great first step” (Motherboard).

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