Cuba Approves First Public Wi-Fi Hub In Havana 33
An anonymous reader writes that Havana is on the verge of getting its first public wi-fi. "Cuba's state telecom agency Etecsa has granted approval to the artist Kcho to open the country's first public wireless hub at his cultural center. Kcho, who has close ties to the Cuban government, is operating the hub using his own, government-approved internet connection, and paying approximately $900 (£600) per month to run it. Only an estimated 5% — 25% of Cubans have any type of internet service. That is because internet access is incredibly expensive. For instance, an hour of internet access at a cafe can cost $4.50 — nearly a week's wages for the average Cuban. Kcho told the Associated Press he decided to offer free internet at the center, which opened in western Havana in January, in order to encourage Cubans to familiarize themselves with the internet."
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But didn't blow a lifetime's savings and declare bankruptcy over a routine medical operation.
Swings and roundabouts, this socialism vs capitalism thing...
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or maybe a doctor wasnt paying attention a critical day
By that token, that applies to every country on earth. Believe what you will. I come from a family of doctors---Cuban doctors---including, what a coincidence, a neurosurgeon and an oncologist, and I can say from experience that the answer to the question asked is a resolute "yes". Of course, that is anecdotal "evidence" and not hard data, but I didn't see you provide any data either.
Comment removed (Score:5, Funny)
Where the $900 ? (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Where the $900 ? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Where the $900 ? (Score:5, Informative)
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What's wrong with you? Why the hostility? I even said "I doubt they are getting any discount here, but it is possible". I did not claim to know the details of his arrangement with ETECSA, why are you assuming I know? It is a fact that some government institutions pay in CUP, and Kcho's account with ETECSA is by no means normal (for starters, ETECSA doesn't sell ADSL, or any kind of connection for that matter, to Cubans, and it doesn't allow wifi without tons of paperwork and oversight). Without knowing deta
Not clear from the summary or the article (Score:5, Informative)
$4.50/hour is the price the governent charges in the public internet cafes, not the price at this new hotspot. This hotspot is free. That is the news here, this is the first internet hotspot that is free and open to the public. This is not clear from the article or the summary. Both mention the official cost and that Kcho decided to make it free, but they don't mention whether he succeeded in making it free. He did.
Kcho, whoever he is, is covering the outrageous cost of ADSL. I wonder if there is something we can do to help him.
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Re:Not clear from the summary or the article (Score:4, Insightful)
His ties to the government are probably the only reason he was able to do this. Some people try to work within the system to improve it, so don't discount him right away.
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Kcho, whoever he is...
FTS:
"Kcho, who has close ties to the Cuban government..."
Gets you anything you want...
You need government approval to set up a wifi hub (Score:1)
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This is typical of all totalitarian regimes. Even the US is heading in that direction.
No it isn't. The USA wants you to communicate all you want.
They simply intend to record it all.
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It is typical of all regimes. Every regime falls short of the image they want to project. That means they depend on the mercy of their citizens, their willingness to forgive imperfection. Or they can cheat: ensure loyalty through deception - propaganda and censorship - or by turning patriotism into an outright cult that worships the nation. Sometimes this gambit works, the regime escapes control of its citizens, and usually begins lumbering from one disaster to a
Nice try Cuba (Score:2)
How to get banned from the 'net in Cuba (Score:1)
Conan O'Brien (Score:2)