Less than 24 hours after a blackout in Cuba's television signal on Sunday night, the relief was short-lived as users reported new failures on social media this Monday.
Official journalist Lázaro Manuel Alonso informed on Facebook that multiple locations across the country are experiencing issues with both analog and standard digital TV signals.
Regarding the previous day's incident, the media outlet Cubadebate published a note today. “Users from different provinces of Cuba have reported the drop in both digital and analog signals during the broadcast of the TV program 'Tras la Huella',” it stated. The report also mentioned that “high-definition (HD) channels were not affected. Radio continues to operate without issues.”
The disruption was caused by “technical problems” that authorities did not fully explain, despite leading to a 59-minute blackout. “Technicians from Radiocuba and other specialists are working to resolve the interruption at a main transmission line,” said Ariadne Plasencia, president of the Grupo Empresarial de la Informática y las Comunicaciones, on social media.
According to Radiocuba, the issue stemmed from malfunctions in technical equipment related to the transmission process. The standard digital terrestrial TV signal was restored after an hour, with the responsible company offering “apologies for the inconvenience caused.”
In July 2023, island authorities announced to the National Assembly of People's Power that Cuba would shut down analog television across the country by 2026. The transition from analog to digital TV in the central region will take place this year, while the eastern region will follow in 2025, aiming for a complete shutdown by 2026, stated Communications Minister Mayra Arevich Marín.
In September 2021, the Cuban government announced that the analog shutdown in the western region, from Pinar del Río to Matanzas, would begin three months later. However, for unexplained reasons, it was postponed to March 2022, then again to September, and finally to December 3, 2023.
Understanding Cuba's TV Signal Disruptions
Here are some frequently asked questions about the recent TV signal disruptions in Cuba and the ongoing transition from analog to digital television.
What caused the recent TV signal disruptions in Cuba?
The disruptions were caused by technical problems, specifically malfunctions in equipment related to the transmission process.
Were high-definition (HD) channels affected by the blackout?
No, the high-definition (HD) channels were not affected by the blackout.
When will Cuba completely transition from analog to digital television?
Cuba plans to complete the transition from analog to digital television by 2026, with different regions transitioning at different times over the next few years.