MOSCOW, January 11 (Sputnik) — Cuba is going to start providing its residents with open Wi-Fi, a service that has been earlier available only for mass media employees, governmental officials and medical workers, according the website of the Union of Cuban Journalists reported.
"Santiago (de Cuba) has been picked by Etecsa to test wifi service late this month," the website reported.
According to the journalists’ website, the internet access will now be provided for residents of Cuba's second-largest city, Santiago de Cuba. However, the internet access will cost $4.5 an hour – a very high prize for ordinary people, who have a salary about 20$ per month.
Since December, as the US and Cuba announced the reestablishment of their diplomatic relations, many Cubans hoped for an improvement of living standards, business development and modernization of economy. The relief of internet control may be considered a first step towards modernization of society in the country, where only 3.4 percent of families have access to internet services.
