Cuba Lifts Ban On Mobile Phones March 31, 2008

Read more Entertainment , Gadgets , Gizmodo UK , Mobile Devices , Mobile phones

With Fidel gone and his brother Raul trying to make Cubans happier, the new Cuban president has lifted the unpopular ban on mobile phones.

This will be the first time that all Cubans will be able to buy mobiles without having to resort to under-the-counter measures of having foreigners buying them phones or having to register themselves as foreigners or through companies. Until now, only foreigners or government officials and employees could own phones legally.

The national phone company, ETECSA, said it would start selling pre-pay phones in the next few days. The snag though, is that it will only accept payment in 'hard currency' - cash - and none of that local funny money. It is estimated that 60% of Cubans have access to 'real money' from relatives in the US and elsewhere, sending money home.

Cubans are also going to be allowed to get computers and DVD players for the first time too.-Martin Lynch

[Reuters]

phone mobile phone life