El Paquete Semanal ("The Weekly Package") or El Paquete is a one terabyte collection of digital material distributed since around 2008 on the underground market in Cuba as a substitute for broadband Internet . Since 2015, it has been the primary source of entertainment for millions of Cubans, as Internet in Cuba has been suppressed for many years with only about a 38.8% Internet penetration rate as of 2018. El Paquete Semanal has its own page that is running in the United States, where one could view its contents and is consistently updated every week.
23-519: According to El Paquete Semanal, by Michaelanne Dye, et al., anywhere from a 4th to a 20th of the population had access to the internet. It is also said that, "Cuba was one of the first 'developing' countries to connect to the WWW." The Cuban Government has also been investing in more internet access for the people, with the use of ETECSA , a service that the citizens could pay 1 CUC (equivalent to an American Dollar) for one hour of internet use. This has become
46-535: The Council of Ministers and Decree 275, the concession of ETECSA as a unified telecommunications operator in the country was extended, the merger of the mobile telephone companies Cubacel and C_COM Sus services which would become part of ETECSA. In the same decree law the following is stated: "(...) The main purpose of the merger is to integrate in a single Mixed Company, all activities related to fixed and cellular telephony, as well as other telecommunications services in
69-588: The Italian STET, which subsequently bought more shares in the Mexican company. Subsequently, the remaining CITEL shares were sold to other Cuban companies. Since then, the institution has undergone periods of technological change, structure, management systems, strategic orientation and the development of new services. On December 16, 2003, through Agreement 4996 of the Executive Committee of
92-694: The Official Gazette of the Republic of Cuba announced that Cuba had acquired 100% of the shares of the company, which it controlled for the first time in its entirety since 1993. The shares were distributed as follows : Telefónica Antillana SA: It owns 6,188 class A shares, equivalent to 51.006% of the capital stock. Rafin SA: It owns 3,276 Class B shares, equivalent to 27.003% of the capital stock. Universal Trade & Management corporation SA: It owns 1,345 Class B shares, equivalent to 11.086% of
115-470: The Package which may sell for as little as $ 1 US. Since a 2011 legal property reform regarding private enterprise, a Cuban advertising firm called Etres has used the new regulations surrounding advertising to legally charge local businesses a small fee to arrange for a short clip or poster promoting their establishment to feature in the Package. It is still unknown who compiles the material or from where it
138-426: The after-sales service for the repair of fixed and mobile telephone terminal equipment marketed by ETECSA that do not have expired the warranty period, as well as the company's own equipment. Minor repairs are also made outside of the warranty period. On September 25, 2006, it was announced that the president of the company José Antonio Fernández, and the vice minister of Communications Nelson Ferrer, had been fired by
161-460: The area they occupy, they do not constitute a Telepunto or Multiservice Telecommunications Center. The Minipoints are distributed throughout Cuba in areas of high concentration of fixed and floating population. 'Services provided:' '(*)' These services are only in Minipoints selected based on their micro-location. It is a modality of direct attention to clients to provide them with
184-519: The capital stock. Banco Internacional de Comercio SA: It owns 112 class B shares, equivalent to 0.923% of the capital stock. Negocios en Telecomunicaciones SA: It owns 464 class B shares, equivalent to 3.825% of the capital stock. Among the services provided by ETECSA include basic telephone services (fixed telephony), alternative fixed telephony (TFA), internet, data transmission, fiber-optical, electronic payment through its platform Transfermovily wireless communication. The company provides services for
207-488: The case of accounts associated with the service. In 2016, Nauta Hogar began, a major campaign to provide service to Cuban homes. Internet can be accessed through wi-fi zones and navigation rooms, with the Nauta Hogar service, and recently through the 3G and 4G cellular network. ETECSA's current sales channel, through which the company sells and markets telecommunications products, accessories and services, comprises
230-469: The cities and, exceptionally, in places selected for their importance. 'Services provided:' '(*)' These services are not available in all Telepoints in the country. The Mini Points are ETECSA centers located in different parts of the cities for public telecommunications services. There are two types of infrastructure: the well-known Caddy Phone and Mini-Points, which are a category of Direct Customer Service center with its own identity, and due to
253-489: The company has gained in efficiency and commitment to its users. Its benefits have been diversified and the quality of the technological parameters has risen, managing to increase the number of lines installed and in service, the digitization index and support for the country's socio-economic development. Also, based on a better organization of work and the multiple training actions that are carried out, its human resources have developed superior management. On February 4, 2011,
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#1732780082319276-483: The country, to ensure the process of investigation, investment, production, provision of services and their commercialization in Cuba and abroad, including the purchase in the foreign market of technical assistance and supplies for production and services, as well as other activities that guarantee the normal functioning of the system and contribute to the national economy freely convertible currencies .. " Since its founding,
299-416: The emergence of Shyampa, there were 14 comprehensive communications companies on the island that covered the specialties of telephony, radio, mail and press, as well as other specialized national entities. In this category were the companies of Projects, Construction and Assembly, Coaxial Cable, EMTELCUBA and Long Distance. In 1993, the constitution of ETECSA as a state and commercial entity was authorized. It
322-626: The most popular method for people to become connected to the internet, mainly used to connect to social media, such as Facebook. Currently, an archive of the weekly packages can be found online, where users can view the content of upcoming and past packages before they obtain the actual package. The most popular content is TV series, soap operas, music, films, and the illegal classifieds but El Paquete Semanal also contains video clips, Spanish language news websites, computer technology websites, instructional videos, software, and advertisements for local Cuban businesses. Most buyers request only certain parts of
345-400: The multiservice telecommunications centers in the country. The telepoint is ETECSA's most important presence in the market. It is a multiservice telecommunications center that offers the entire range of products and services of the company. It is located in areas of high concentration of fixed and floating population in the provincial capitals, preferably in historical and commercial areas of
368-494: The network of Telepoints, Minipoints, Multiservice Centers and Commercial Offices, within which points of sale can also coexist. The Commercial Office is the first and most important point of contact for ETECSA with users throughout the Cuban territory. In it, the services and products of the company are commercialized, the procedures related to the telephone service and its contractual relationships and comprehensive attention to
391-467: The new minister Ramiro Valdés for negligence in controlling the company. In March 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic; The company urged Cubans to make “reasonable” use of mobile data to avoid a collapse in the island's Internet network, which caused great outrage within a population that is already forced to pay its high prices for the service, without having any other option within Cuba. Balneario Too Many Requests If you report this error to
414-526: The public, business and state sectors, as well as the millions of tourists and vacationers who travel to the Republic of Cuba. Since June 4, 2013, Cubans residing on the island were allowed the facilities for public access to the Internet under the Nauta service in 118 centers throughout the country from navigation rooms and public parks. This service had a great impact on the population since until then service
437-613: The user and the population in general. Services provided: (*) These services are not available in all the Commercial Offices of the country. The Centro Multiservicios de Telecomunicaciones constitutes a way of presenting ETECSA in the market to offer public telecommunications services. It is a category of direct care center with an identity of its own. They are located, fundamentally, in areas of high concentration of fixed and floating population. 'Services provided:' '(*)' These services are not available in all
460-536: Was obtained. Some have theorized that the lack of pornographic material and lack of anti-government views in the package may indicate the Cuban government is involved in its production. One way the government has attempted to deal with the spreading of El Paquete is by creating their own pirated media source mimicking El Paquete called Mochila or Maletín, which means "bookbag" in English. This media package offered classical movies, music, and educational materials, but
483-547: Was officially created on June 28, 1994 as a commercial company with mixed capital between the Cuban State through the company Telefónica Antillana S.A. (51%) and the Mexican company CITEL (49%). and in 1994 it was granted the administrative concession for the provision and commercialization of public telecommunications services. The merger process lasted from the beginning of 1994 to February 1995, when ETECSA hired all its workers. In April 1995 CITEL sold 25% of its shares to
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#1732780082319506-526: Was only offered in balnearios , hotels and tourist centers. Juventud Rebelde, official newspaper of the Union de Jovenes Comunistas (UJC), announced that new Internet access services would gradually become available in other public spaces, such as cultural centers, libraries and museums. The cost of Internet access is 25.00 CUP for every 2 hours and 25 minutes in public areas with WiFi connection and in navigation rooms, for access to sites hosted on Cuban servers, in
529-455: Was ultimately very unpopular. ETECSA Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba S.A. (English: Telecommunications Company of Cuba ; ETECSA ) is the Cuban state company that provides telephony and communications services in Cuba. It is the sole lawful provider of telephony and telecommunications permitted by the Cuban penal code, constituting a communications state monopoly that has 8 million clients, both national and foreign. Before
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