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Telephone

The country code for Cuba is 53.

GSM cell phones will work in Cuba.

Cuba is, by design, one of the most expensive countries to communicate in. Incoming phonecalls to Cuba cost about 1 Euro / minute, even through services like Skype. Outgoing calls from Cuba are similarly expensive.

Internet

Having internet at your house is illegal, though pirate connections (usually through a modem set up at a school or workplace) can be obtained for about 30 CUC per month. In many cities the only way for tourists to access the internet is through the government's communications centers. Look for large, modern buildings bearing the name "ETECSA", which stands for Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba S.A. The computers are new and the connection fast, but it costs 6 CUC / hour.

Television

Cuba Vision, is the national television station.

If you're staying at a hotel or casa particular, it's likely there will be a television, and watching Cuban television is a good place to observe Cuba's unique mix of vibrant culture, sports and controversial politics.

The Cuban telenovelas are one of the state's key instruments for addressing sexual taboos and educating young people about AIDS, for example. The locally produced cartoons are the most interesting and uniquely Cuban. They range from abstract and artsy to informative to entertaining.

The most famous of the genre is the children's program Elpidio Valdés, which chronicles the adventures of a band of rebels in the 19th century revolt against the Spanish. The mix of cartoon slapstick humor and images of violent revolution (dashing revolutionaries stealing rifles, blowing up Spanish forts, and sticking pistols into the mouths of goofy Spanish generals) in a program geared at children is simultaneously delightful and disturbing.

Radio

Radio Reloj, broadcasts news 24 hours and states the time every minute on the minute — dos cuarenta y dos minutos...

Radio Rebelde is another news radio station.

Most of the radio stations are available live online.

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Based on work by lj erickson, Emile Armand, Todd VerBeek, Mike Sharp, Alberto J. Arrechea and David, Wikitravel user(s) Valtteri, Cacahuate, War is peace, The Yeti and Morph, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others. Content is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 1.0.