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Citizen journalism: Making '€˜Cuba'€™s Hour'€™ count for Cubans

Internet-less nation: A couple shares a smartphone in Havana, where Internet access is a luxury

The Jakarta Post
Fri, September 25, 2015

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Citizen journalism: Making '€˜Cuba'€™s Hour'€™ count for Cubans Internet-less nation: A couple shares a smartphone in Havana, where Internet access is a luxury. Experts estimate that only 5 percent of Cubans have access to the Internet, a “social debt” that is most acute in rural populations.(Marianela González/Ofxam) (Marianela González/Ofxam)

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span class="inline inline-center">Internet-less nation: A couple shares a smartphone in Havana, where Internet access is a luxury. Experts estimate that only 5 percent of Cubans have access to the Internet, a '€œsocial debt'€ that is most acute in rural populations.(Marianela González/Ofxam)

Since Dec. 17, Cuba has been '€œtrending'€. Reporters, politicians, analysts and celebrities have all turned their eyes toward Havana where today '€” with the opening of the US embassy by John Kerry, the first Secretary of State to visit the island in over 70 years '€” a new episode begins for the country and its people.

The renewal of diplomatic ties between the two countries also coincides with the gradual implementation of economic reforms introduced in 2006 by Cuban President Raul Castro. '€œThis is Cuba'€™s hour'€, analysts say, brought about by a mix of internal economic liberalization, the desire for foreign investment, increased access to technology, better infrastructure and improved relations with international financial organizations and banks.

The voices of the Cuban people in this process, however, have been less visible. According to official sources, only 800,000 of the 11 million inhabitants of the island connect through Nauta '€” an internet service that recently expanded to include 35 public Wi-Fi spots in 16 major cities '€” which means that the opinions circulating on social networks represent but a small part of Cuban residents and the '€œfloating'€ population (tourists, Cubans with dual citizenship, etc.).

Experts estimate that only 5 percent of Cubans have access to the Internet. The digital divide is even worse in rural communities, where the government refers to the '€œlast mile'€ challenge: getting telecommunications into the average Cuban home.

Beyond the headlines, the real challenge '€” for Cuba, for governments, for civil society, and for NGOs like Oxfam '€” is making sure that Cuban citizens, including women and girls, urban and rural populations, are at the heart of the historic transformations taking place in their country.

Marianela Gonzalez
Communications officer for OxfamCuba

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