Thanks to the efforts of lawyer Marcell Felipe and other members of the Cuban exile in the United States, there is the possibility that Cuba will have an alternative to receive Internet during the intentional cuts that Etecsa implements during demonstrations on the Island.
According to what the jurist stated in the program “A Fondo”, by journalist Juan Manuel Cao, the technology exists to do this, but not the will on the part of the current US government.
The lawyer, founder of the ‘Inspira América’ organization, met with the State Department and members of the team of congressmen María Elvira Salazar and Carlos Giménez, this after the historic protests of July 11, 2021, when the regime repressed the demonstrations suspending Internet service.
“After July 11, yours truly met specifically with the State Department and with members of the team of María Elvira Salazar, Carlos Jiménez and Mario Díaz-Balart to introduce them to the supplier, the contractor that has the capacity to carry that Internet to Cuba,” said the activist during his interview.
Likewise, he indicated that there were contractors with the possibility of providing Internet to the town through an alternative route, such as Elon Musk’s Starlink company and another provider that he preferred not to name.
While providing satellite Internet is relatively easy, the user requires a special receiver on the ground nearby or a phone with the right features to pick up the direct signal.
The latter would be the main obstacle, since it is unlikely that the dictatorship will remain idly by while the people are given a tool that will serve to circumvent one of its most effective censorship tactics.
“When you bring that (the equipment) into Cuba, the regime confiscates it,” the lawyer acknowledges.
In that sense, the only option would be for the contractor to be able to bring the Internet signal to the cell phones that already exist in Cuba.
“We brought you a contractor who can do it. And that was two years ago and until now absolutely nothing has been done,” commented the lawyer.
According to the jurist, there is also the case of Elon Musk’s Starlink, which is going to launch “a similar service at the end of this year”, which could be considered for 2025.
In addition to the exile and the Cuban-American congressmen, this plan has the support of the Republican senator from Florida, Rick Scott.
“This is not a money issue. If the administration wants to do it, we in Congress are ready to approve it. It is a problem of lack of will.”
The program emphasized that the satellite Internet service would not be permanent, but would only be activated when the Castro government suspends people’s communications, which usually occurs during popular demonstrations.
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