By Oscar Figueredo Reinaldo on June 18, 2025
University students meet with ETECSA in search of joint solutions. Photo, Yasiel Hernández
As Cubans try to deal with the recent rate hikes of phone services they have set up a problem solving collaboration between ETECSA and a panel of university students as a way to improve communication accessibility in the shadow of the Blockade. Something like this would be unfathomable in the US where the only problem the corporate phone companies are concerned with is their profit margin. – editorial
University leaders from various institutions across the country presented more than 40 proposals to ETECSA on Wednesday, following meetings with the telecommunications company. These initiatives are the result of several days of meetings between the student organization and the company, which allowed for consensus to be reached following the implementation of new commercial measures.
During the meeting, it was reported that the multidisciplinary group was divided into three working groups: Operations, Commercial, and Communication, aimed at seeking various solutions to the proposals made by the young people after ETECSA’s announcement.
“All the proposals made by the university students, not only from Havana but from all over the country, were taken into account,” said the national vice president of the Federation of University Students (FEU), Litza González Desdín. The student leader also indicated that these proposals will be made public and discussed in the University Councils of each academic institution, while the group will accompany the company in the implementation of the projects according to their feasibility.
Among the elements evaluated by the young people and the entity were a review of the communication strategy, the implementation of a manual for times of crisis, and alternatives to increase feedback with the public. “Technical failures were diagnosed and solutions were proposed, such as the virtualization of nodes and the repair of batteries, as well as practical exercises related to commercial offers. A detailed analysis of the concerns raised at the universities was also carried out, and pricing policy, data packages, and sectoralization were evaluated. In addition, the creation of projects with a social and economic focus was considered, as well as a work system to evaluate the progress of the initiatives presented,” explained González.
For her part, Tania Velázquez, executive president of ETECSA, described the working sessions as very enriching. “The relationship has evolved positively; more than a dialogue, it has been a frank, open, and exchange-based relationship. We see possibilities for these projects to contribute to our organization.”
She explained that around 40 ETECSA specialists participated in the meetings. “Our interest is to raise awareness of the reality of our company and seek joint solutions.”
Luis Yoel González, vice president of the FEU at the University of Pedagogical Sciences, who participated in the commercial subgroup, expressed his gratitude for the debates. “There are still disagreements, but we must recognize that, after what we saw here, ETECSA workers deserve our respect. We have lived through tense moments and had to reinvent ourselves in every university. Dissatisfaction was present, but the important thing was how to express it. The creation of this group allowed us to come to ETECSA representing young university students and make medium- and long-term proposals.”
He proposed that, in the future, parents who purchase lines in their name (due to the age of their children) be able to designate beneficiaries for those lines. He highlighted ETECSA’s role during the COVID-19 pandemic, a fact little known by the population. “ETECSA, in the midst of the international crisis, provided funding for health care.”
José Alberto Almeida, secretary of the provincial council of the FEU in Havana, highlighted the high level of training of ETECSA’s specialists and technicians. He also urged the integration of university students in the search for solutions to other problems facing the country. “This document, which we are going to discuss with our councils, includes responses to the opinions most frequently expressed by young people, as well as a system for checking projects. We have a responsibility to convey everything we have seen here to the other structures of the organization, confirming that within the Revolution and our institution, we can continue to participate and build the Cuba we all want.”
Omar David Domínguez, member of the Operations subgroup and president of the Faculty of Computer Engineering at CUJAE, commented that, with the information provided by ETECSA, technical solutions are being proposed that will be studied for implementation in the short, medium, and long term. “We addressed issues such as energy, climate, mobile and fixed networks, data centers, and the state of the company’s infrastructure.”
David Echavarría García, vice president of the Faculty of Stomatology, said that it was gratifying to participate in this type of meeting. “Now we have the elements to understand the measure. It would be good to extend this experience to other sectors.”
Deputy Prime Minister Eduardo Martínez Díaz acknowledged the relevance of these meetings, highlighting the talent and collective intelligence of the students. “We must take advantage of this.” He added that both the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister have been aware of the meetings. “There are things that may not be possible in the short term, but they can be structured through projects.”
In his speech, he reiterated the need to implement measures to ensure the sustainability and improvement of the company’s services.
For her part, Meyvis Estévez Echavarría, first secretary of the UJC, acknowledged the scope of the proposals, which not only benefit young university students but also other sectors of the population. She announced that the group will meet again in September, reaffirming the importance of links between the university and the company.
Source: Cubadebate, translation Resumen Latinoamericano – English