HAVANA, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Over 7.6 million of Cuba's 11.2 million residents have access to the internet, said Cuban telecommunications company Etecsa.
Starting in July 2015, Etecsa began to set up public Wi-Fi access in parks, plazas, commercial centers and other sites, while the mobile internet service in the Caribbean nation started in December 2018.
In addition, Cubans now spend four hours a day on average connecting to the internet, according to local media reports.
Cuban Minister of Communications Mayra Arevich has said that the government will continue to improve internet infrastructure nationwide.
The development of public telecommunications services and infrastructure, the strengthening of cybersecurity, and the transition from computerization to digital transformation are paramount priorities, she said.
Meanwhile, a new submarine fiber optic cable is already operating in Cuba, which will improve the internet connectivity on the island, according to the government.
More than 39,000 new Cuban households are expected to benefit from the internet service in 2023.
Havana resident Madelaine Rodriguez told Xinhua that Cuban companies and entrepreneurs can use the internet to improve the country's economic performance.
"The internet is here to stay," she said. "The road to development is also very much related to making good use of digital platforms." ■
