Cuba Starts Rolling Out Internet on Mobile Phones (reuters.com) 54
Communist-run Cuba has started providing internet on the mobile phones of select users as it aims to roll out the service nationwide by year-end, in a further step toward opening one of the Western Hemisphere's least connected countries. From a report: Journalists at state-run news outlets were among the first this year to get mobile internet, provided by Cuba's telecoms monopoly, as part of a wider campaign for greater internet access that new President Miguel Diaz-Canel has said should boost the economy and help Cubans defend their revolution. Analysts said broader web access will also ultimately weaken the government's control of what information reaches people in the one-party island state that has a monopoly on the media. Cuba frowns on public dissent and blocks access to dissident websites.
Communism (Score:2)
Re: (Score:1)
In 2013, SpaceX launched a satellite into space, only 56 years after a Socialist country did it.
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
You do understand, I trust, that the American space program greatly benefited from German scientists hustled into the country after the war. Werner von Braun ring any bells. Both the Americans and the Soviets plundered the wreckage of Nazi Germany for its technological innovations, and in particular for aeronautics technology. Whether it was guided missiles or jet aircraft, the Germans had come a lot further in their research and development in these areas.
Re: (Score:2)
Yes, there was a significant contribution, but the input of Soviet and American engineers and scientists shall not be underestimated.
Re: (Score:2)
While von Braun wanted to go into space, the Nazis were interested solely in military applications. And so, really, where the Americans and Soviets. The space program was as much about developing ICBMs as it was about putting monkeys and humans in space.
Re: (Score:2)
You do understand, I trust, that the American space program greatly benefited from German scientists hustled into the country after the war. Werner von Braun ring any bells. Both the Americans and the Soviets plundered the wreckage of Nazi Germany for its technological innovations, and in particular for aeronautics technology. Whether it was guided missiles or jet aircraft, the Germans had come a lot further in their research and development in these areas.
Go back even further than that... the only reason the western allies won the war was because our German scientists were better than their German scientists.
Re: (Score:1)
Do you really think its completely impossible for any place, any country, and society at all to escape poverty unless they can trade directly with the united states?
If uncle same averts his gaze from you and shuns you, do you fall into the stone age, and build a prison island wherein it is illegal to escape or complain about the conditions?
Maybe, just maybe trading with the vast majority of the world, even receiving massive subsidies from friendly countries, should be more than enough for any nation to succ
Re: (Score:3)
So the embargo did absolutely nothing to the GDP or living conditions in Cuba?
Okay.
Re: (Score:1)
You're replying to a clear and obvious troll attempt.. But then again, it's not like there was an embargo (that was absolutely not imposed by a capitalist country either) that kept Cuba at a level of development from 1950, and led to wide spread poverty. Totes didn't happen.
Yep blame socialism. (Though blaming socialism is usually the right answer.. just not in this case.)
Sure it is.
Let's split a country in two. Make one side capitalist, the other side socialist. Then come back in 70 years and see what happened. [wikimedia.org]
List of countries by gross national income per capita: [wikipedia.org]
South Korea: 28
North Korea: no data
List of countries by per capita purchasing power [cia.gov]:
15: South Korea
118 North Korea
Too much Ego in government. (Score:2)
The problem is there is too much Ego in government and not enough listening. Nearly every decision will have trade offs, many of them may not be predictable and at what scale until after it has happen. Governments if they are actually working for the people and not themselves should be able to listen to the decent that is in place and learn from it. Punishing descent will only hide the problems from the government and many people can suffer, because sometimes a small tweak to a decision may make the oppos
Backwards (Score:1)
FREEDOM will solve the problem.
The government should spend less of its attention on SIFTING OUT people's hard earned money and propping up bread-and-circus access to celebutard news media and more of its attention on releasing political prisoners and letting people start businesses.
That will get people out of poverty. If they just expanded individual freedom outside currency would P
Re: (Score:1)
Oh, the wonders of american freedom, the freedom to die from a disease in the street, uncared for. I think I'll take german "stalinism" over this one, thank you very much.
Re: (Score:1)
I think Germany and Cuba would be better to follow America's model.
Also Germany and New Mexico should eject all the cartels and jihadists killing and raping without recourse.
Re: (Score:2)
I prefer social solidarity over gadgets. I prefer welfare over freedom.
Re: (Score:1)
You should be able to do what you prefer.
Me, I don't prefer that.
Each of us should be able to pursue happiness as we are entitled by the Declaration of Independence.
Civilly speaking, my preferences should be just as valid as yours.
Unless you're a king or tyrant or whatever.
Re: (Score:2)
It may surprise you, american, but I have never signed your declaration of independence, nor do I live in your country, nor do I respect what your culture has become.
Re: (Score:1)
I suppose I do agree with you in that you've probably had to make do with more challenges and less opportunity.
Acknowledging that
gonna get myself connected... (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
at $40-60 for 5Gb and then $15-$25 GB after that maybe not.
corychristison (Score:2)
Thats about what we pay here in Canada.
eSamizdat (Score:1)
Samizdat [wikipedia.org] help to topple other communist governments. Today, it's much easier with the Internet. Expect big changes in Cuba, shortly.
Cuba frowns on public dissent (Score:5, Insightful)
Where "frowns" equals "has killed tens of thousands of people in the name of political correctness"
https://www.quora.com/How-many-deaths-was-Fidel-Castro-responsible-for
Re: (Score:2)
No comrade, with time you will learn that under that mustache, Big Brother is smiling.
Re: (Score:2)
Where "frowns" equals "has killed tens of thousands of people in the name of political correctness"
Which makes me wonder ...
All the people upset about Trump in Helsinki, where were they when Obama was cozying up to Castro and reestablishing diplomatic relations with Cuba without so much a stern word about their appalling human rights practices?
Asking for a friend.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Is this a good thing? (Score:2)
Is this a good thing?
Re: (Score:2)
Yes! Everyone knows that cute cat videos will save the world!
Re: (Score:3)
For the most part it is. However Cuba track record on these type of things, means we should a world population keep an eye on it to see the ramifications of this.
Sounds like a job... (Score:2)
This sounds like a job... for BATMAN! [wikipedia.org]
I mean, maybe. I dunno. Low connectivity with only a few points actually having a connection and everyone else running adhoc wireless sharing one common resource DOES sound pretty communistic. But I really just wanted to say the line about batman.
Gotta make Communist the first word, because, (Score:1)
They shall probably roll it back as soon as they (Score:2)
Media control (Score:2)
Analysts said broader web access will also ultimately weaken the government's control of what information reaches people in the one-party island state that has a monopoly on the media.
Cuban can already get any news they want from foreign radio./p
Joke is on Cuba (Score:2)
All the US backed protest organizing can now be funded and directed on secure networks.
The NSA is going to use the new communications networks to secure communications between neighborhood protest committees.
In every neighborhood, Color Revolution.
Sorry Cuba, you can't protect your revolution. (Score:2)