Policy Shift: United States telecom companies allowed in Cuba
President Barack Obama made a historic announcement Wednesday by declaring that his administration is making a major shift in United States policy toward Cuba. The move will allow U.S. telecommunications companies to rollout infrastructure and provide commercial services in Cuba.
“Today, we are renewing our leadership in the Americas. We are choosing to cut loose the anchor of the past, because it is entirely necessary to reach a better future – for our national interests, for the American people and for the Cuban people,” Obama stated.
A major portion of reopening relations with Cuba focuses on communications, and specifically on how U.S. telecommunications companies can allow the Cuban people to communicate more effectively with the rest of the world. The current telecommunications services in Cuba are very limited, and very expensive. Dr. Greg Raleigh, founder and CEO of ItsOn, believes that the shift in policy is a step in the right direction.
“This decision is going to open a major channel between U.S. telco carriers and Cuban citizens, introducing many more Cuban people to the mobile Internet and enabling them to participate in the modern Internet economy,” Raleigh stated.
U.S. companies will also be allowed to export and sell communications devices, hardware, software and other items which apply to updating Cuba’s current communications system.
“The timing is particularly great for Cuban mobile service consumers because they’re going to be coming online just as new mobile service technologies come to the market that enable consumers to buy just the services they want, when they want them,” Raleigh said.
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