US tech giant Google on March 28 signed a deal with Cuban operator ETECSA to explore ways of boosting internet service on the communist-run island, despite diplomatic tensions between Washington and Havana. The companies signed a memorandum of understanding in Havana aimed at speeding up connectivity to help bring communications on the island into the 21st century, a key policy of President Miguel Diaz-Canel.
Cuba's internet provider is currently dependent on a submarine fiber-optic cable link to Venezuela, but service is often overloaded and slow. Engineers from the two companies will now work together toward achieving a faster, direct internet connection. The island would benefit from connecting to submarine cables between the US and Latin America.
Mobile internet has been available on the island since December and nearly two million of ETECSA's five million-plus customers have already subscribed to the 3G service. He has worked to tighten the six-decade embargo, threatening to extend it to apply to foreign companies trading with Cuba.
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