Cuba Kick-Starts Home Internet Access in Old Havana

The Cuban government announced on Wednesday a two-month trial scheme that will allow people to connect to the internet from their homes for the first time.

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The state-run telecommunications company Etecsa will install internet in 2,000 private houses in Old Havana in the historic heart of the city.

Local residents are very happy to test their internet access. One woman called it "wonderful," saying "around 20 minutes ago, I spoke to my son who is working in Spain."

Cuba is one of the countries with the lowest online connectivity rates as the majority of Cubans accesses the internet through public Wi-Fi spots located in parks and other public spaces. Etecsa recently has improved its service by reducing the fee for connecting to the web by 25 percent.

Earlier this year, the Cuban government announced plans to roll out free Wi-Fi along a 5-mile stretch of Havana's iconic seaside esplanade, the Malecon. 

Etecsa also signed a deal with Google earlier this month to speed up service for the internet giant's services like Gmail and Youtube on the Caribbean island.