Illegal Devices Blamed for Cuba's Poor Mobile Service, Says ETECSA

Cuban telecommunications officials have attributed the decline in mobile phone and network service quality to individuals using unauthorized equipment, as well as to social disorder and acts of vandalism, all amid a backdrop of severe economic and financial strain. They explained that unauthorized antennas and repeaters disrupt the signal of radio bases, directly impairing network functionality in specific regions of the country.

During a press conference, Kevin Castro Rodríguez, the deputy director of the Network Operations Vice Presidency at the Cuban Telecommunications Company S.A. (ETECSA), addressed these issues, as reported by the Cuban News Agency (ACN) and echoed by the state-run portal CubaSí. He identified the use of prohibited communication devices by "unknowing or unscrupulous" individuals as a major factor degrading service quality.

Castro Rodríguez elaborated that the problem stems from the illegal importation and sale of antennas and signal repeaters, devices intended to enhance connectivity in limited areas but which interfere with existing infrastructure and disrupt normal network operations. In Havana, areas particularly affected include Santa Fe and Buena Vista in the Playa municipality; the Vedado area near 1st and 12th in Plaza de la Revolución; the vicinity of the Masonic building and Zanja Street in Central Havana; as well as Lawton and Loma de Chaple in the Diez de Octubre district.

Impact of Unauthorized Equipment on National Network

On a national level, around six percent of cell towers experience critical interference, with the capital being the most affected province, suffering from 12% external interference, he noted. The official also pointed out incidents linked to social misbehavior and vandalism, which have harmed the population given the company's limited financial capability to quickly repair the damage.

Castro emphasized that many of the destroyed or stolen pieces of equipment are expensive imported items, and replacing them requires redirecting resources from other developmental priorities. Due to the inability to constantly monitor the infrastructure, he urged citizens to stay vigilant and report any damage or vandalism to the number 118.

Where the perpetrators or instigators of these acts have been caught, and sometimes, according to him, they aim to disrupt order and internal security, they have been handed over to the appropriate authorities. Meanwhile, representatives from the National Radio Spectrum Control Center warned about the misuse of illegal satellite equipment and connections, posing increased risks when these services are extended or sold to third parties.

Legal and Technical Consequences of Equipment Violations

The authorities reminded that such violations not only degrade service quality and compromise the sovereignty of the radio spectrum but also constitute offenses under the Cuban Penal Code, with penalties ranging from fines and confiscations to imprisonment. Regarding the entry of these devices into the country—freely marketed in other countries under regulations not applicable to the Cuban context—they highlighted the difficulty in detection and the ease with which their components can be concealed in luggage, necessitating greater training and scrutiny from border personnel.

They also stressed the need to better inform the public about the legal and technical repercussions of these practices, as many are often committed out of sheer ignorance. For years, many Cubans have resorted to homemade and inventive solutions to improve their internet access and mobile coverage, in response to the structural deficiencies of the island’s telecommunications service.

As early as 2018, there were reports of using deodorant tubes and fan housings as makeshift antennas to boost signal strength, highlighting the urgency with which people confronted technological limitations. By late 2023, other improvised devices, such as metal rods combined with plastic boxes, were reported to improve internet access from areas with poor coverage.

More recently, in July 2024, a case emerged of Cubans who enhanced signal quality using a pressure cooker lid as a reflector, demonstrating the continued adaptation of popular ingenuity to new challenges. This solution, though rudimentary, showed that the need for connectivity drives people to experiment even with kitchen utensils.

In October of the same year, a new trend emerged among internet users: crafting homemade antennas from recyclable materials to capture ETECSA's signal, once again reflecting the extent of this phenomenon. These devices, created in the absence of affordable official alternatives, sought to optimize data reception in areas where service was weak or unstable. Although these solutions showcase the resilience and creativity of ordinary Cubans, they also contribute to a pattern that authorities have begun to identify as a direct cause of network interference, especially in densely populated areas like Havana.