Cuba Gets High-Speed Internet

[Charleston Chew]

Run time: 02:10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RKCeZh5K1c   Posted on YouTube: February 11, 2011 By YouTube Member: NewsyVideos Views on YouTube: 2   Posted on DU: February 11, 2011 By DU Member: Charleston Chew Views on DU: 482

 
"Cuba's Internet connectivity is speeding into the future thanks to a 995-mile long fiber optic cable from Venezuela. The $70 million cable project, expected to be fully operational by July, will give Cuba a data transmission speed of 640 gigabytes..."

Cuba is getting an underwater high-speed fiber optic cable connecting it to Venezuela. The cable will make Internet access in the country 3,000 times faster. But according to the BBC, not everyone will get access.

"Access is restricted and available only with government permission - although since 2009 Cubans have been able to use Internet cafes, mostly in hotels, and there is a strong black market for Internet connections."

The BBC also reports officials in Cuba have blamed its slow connection on the U.S. trade embargo. Many media outlets are reporting the underwater cable breaks that trade embargo, but it will still stand.

An analyst with Podcast 404 hopes the new connectivity will increase the effectiveness of government opposition.

"We know in the past the Internet has served as a great tool for nations and people to unite against the oppressive government ... Hopefully justice will be strengthened by this new cable link."

Euronews reports several Cubans have already been keeping blogs. The network talked with Yoani Sanchez -- who criticizes daily life in Cuba on her blog Generation Y. She has a strong international audience, and her blog is now available in Cuba.

"The Cuban government unblocked access to Sanchez's blog on Tuesday. She described the new cable as being the umbilical cord to freedom."

A ZDNet blogger sees that as a positive sign - change could be coming to Cuba.

"...it does signal a possible regime or policy change to allow greater freedom of speech in the country. ... It is becoming clear that steps are being taken to align the country to modernity from a third-world country to at very least a second."

Next stop: Jamaica. Plans are in the works to run the cable from Cuba to Jamaica.

[RC]

1. The rest of the world moves ahead as we slow to a stop.

[Charleston Chew]

2. basically...

And as the world has witnessed in the past three weeks the internet is the tool, the game changer for entire countries.

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