Best VPNs for Cuba

In Cuba, the internet is distributed through a state-owned telecommunication company called ETECSA who borrows technology from the Chinese tech giant Huawei. Even though internet access is available in the country, it’s very sparse because of the underdeveloped infrastructure and high costs. Across the nation there are only 370 established Wi-Fi hotspots, most of them in internet cafes or workplaces. Furthermore, one hour of browsing costs around $1.50 on a public computer, which is shockingly high considering that the monthly wage is around $30. On top of all that the bandwidth is limited and the connection speed is slow. Nevertheless, smartphones are quickly gaining popularity on the islands and more and more people can be seen browsing in public parks and Wi-Fi enabled areas.

The online privacy laws are behind the times in Cuba to the point that they don’t really exist. The authorities utilize heavy censorship to discourage people from viewing content critical of the government. It’s also rumored that the government reroutes all network traffic through a proxy server and uses monitoring software Avila Link in an attempt to copy the username and passwords of those who visit illicit websites. When asked about the brazen violation of privacy rights, Cuban ambassador Miguel Ramirez stated that the regulations are necessary in order to combat hackers and scammers and prevent people from accessing sources that include pornographic, satanic or terrorist content.

Cuban internet censorship is no doubt real, but at the same time it’s crude and unrefined due to the country’s limitations in technology. The Open Observatory of Network Interferences (OONI) tested the reliability of Cuba’s public ParkNets in 2017 and they discovered that authorities use deep packet inspection technology to block online sites that are critical of the Castro family or the government. These include pro-democracy forums, Anonymouse, Freedom House and several anti-Castro groups. When visiting any of these sites, you’ll instead be served a blank white page.

Cubans are often unaware that they are even victims of censorship, thinking that the poor connection is behind the long load time. The country also blocks access to Skype, but other communication tools such as Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp aren’t restricted at the moment. OONI’s inquiry also revealed that Cuban users face restrictions from foreign sources, too. The report names Google as an example of this, with the internet giant denying access to the App Engine development tool if the IP is from Cuba. While the country’s censorship is far less strict than what we see in China, the biggest barrier to viewing internet content is actually the high cost of the service, which explains why the government doesn’t feel the need for stronger regulations.

Cuban citizens come up with numerous clever tricks to work around this system. Because it is investigative articles, human rights forums, and pro-freedom blog posts that are being targeted by the government, people started to distribute them offline by sharing the text on cheap flash drives. Others persuade foreign tourists to post the content using the free Wi-Fi available in their embassy. There’s even a whole black market network created around renting passwords and usernames to avoid being spied on by the government.

The reason Cubans don’t use VPN services, however, is because the connection is already slow and unstable, which would be further reduced by running the traffic through an extra server. Plus, people can’t afford to pay for both internet access and a VPN subscription with their limited salary. But on the other hand, a VPN is highly recommended for travelers and foreign visitors. Since certain sites are restricted if you are using a Cuban IP, masking your online signature would open every door, especially if you enjoy streaming TV series and would like to watch your favorite while scouring the world.

VPNs are tools mostly used by travelers and tourists visiting the islands, however even the citizens of Cuba can benefit from accessing a fast VPN, especially if they know how to make the most out of the free trials.