Cuba - internet / mobile service
Discussion
Anyone been very recently to Cuba and if so how did you get on with Internet access / mobile service?
I'm assuming that cellphone service / SMS is available in Havana and Varadero but data/3G not, and that both our hotels will have internet 'cafes' on a very slow line and possibly wifi in lobby areas etc .. but not to expect anything fast or reliable ?
I'm assuming that cellphone service / SMS is available in Havana and Varadero but data/3G not, and that both our hotels will have internet 'cafes' on a very slow line and possibly wifi in lobby areas etc .. but not to expect anything fast or reliable ?
I was there earlier this year and didn't see Wifi anywhere. Cell service wasn't a problem, but its expensive to make calls, and only some texts were eventually sent (mum & dad got sporadic ones, not all of them!).
Internet is pretty expensive, and yes, dialup is about the best speed to expect! But hey, you'll be on holiday - turn off the phone and ignore the internet and enjoy the peace!!!
Internet is pretty expensive, and yes, dialup is about the best speed to expect! But hey, you'll be on holiday - turn off the phone and ignore the internet and enjoy the peace!!!
Just got back a couple of weeks ago from Cuba with Mrs Yellowtr. Internet access is available at most hotels and should cots around 6CUC an hour with a "scratch card" which you can reuse if you don't use the 60 minutes. Speeds are okay, I would say comparable to broadband about 6 years ago probably. I noticed if you tried to open to many tabs at once it would struggle. Wi-Fi never saw it anywhere. You will need to show your passport to use the internet!
3G not a chance! SMS/Phone no problem via Cubacel but coverage can dip in some areas outside of Havana.
3G not a chance! SMS/Phone no problem via Cubacel but coverage can dip in some areas outside of Havana.
Amazingly, in a country where practically everyone is obsessed with getting that one last CUC from the visiting tourist, I managed to get unrestricted wifi in both hotels I stayed in - free of charge.
Granted it never went above 3KB/s and >1sec ping everywhere, but it worked reliably. Cubans can't access it though; hotel 1 was done on a allocated username/password, hotel 2 just added everyone's MAC addresses to an approved list on their Netgear router ..
Mobile was good signal across Havana/Varadero and even down to the south, I received all the text messages sent to me but a few replies went walkies..
Granted it never went above 3KB/s and >1sec ping everywhere, but it worked reliably. Cubans can't access it though; hotel 1 was done on a allocated username/password, hotel 2 just added everyone's MAC addresses to an approved list on their Netgear router ..
Mobile was good signal across Havana/Varadero and even down to the south, I received all the text messages sent to me but a few replies went walkies..
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