ACN is reporting that Cuba will begin construction of an undersea internet cable soon and begin to utilize it in July 2011.

Since the article is written by the Communist run ACN, the article is written in the usual way, poor old Cuba and blame the US.

So, I can’t help but to comment on the parts that are just funny to me. See my comments in bold.

Preparations in Cuba to Connect Underwater Cable Enter Final Stage

Workers on the infrastructure created in eastern Santiago de Cuba to connect the Venezuela-Cuba underwater cable have intensified their efforts as the date set for the starting of the laying of the cable approaches.

In the beach town of Siboney, 14 Km east of the city, the group of technicians working on the infrastructure that includes a communications center needed for the successful development of the project have entered the final stage of the preparation process.

The laying of the cable is scheduled to begin between January 18 and 20. It will be laid from Camuri, a site close to the town of La Guaira in the northern coast of Venezuela to Santiago de Cuba, where it should be within the first half of February. As long as Venezuelans are doing all the work, the project MAY be finished on time.

Works on the beach registries, where the underwater cable will be connected with the land cable, are on the final stage; 70% of equipment and accessories included in the investment for the project on the Cuban side have been already delivered, while the technical staff that will operate the system is receiving training to start working on July 2011.

The assembly of equipment at a maintenance center in Santiago de Cuba city is also about to be completed. “about to be completed”. There are LOTS of projects in Cuba that are “about to be completed”. Engineers and technicians who will work at the center are Cubans who studied in the island and received postgraduate training in France specifically to work on the project. Probably true. Probably two guys.

After reaching Santiago de Cuba, a bifurcation of the 630-Km long cable will be extended through Ocho Rios, Jamaica, to connect that country and other nations in the area.

According to previous reports, the cost of the project amounts to $70 million. It will give the island the possibility to access the fiber optic connection system for the first time.

Once operations begin, data, image and voice transmission will be 3,000 times faster and the country will have a capacity for 10 million simultaneous telephone transmissions. But the Castro brothers will make sure telephone lines per thousand people remain at their lowest levels in the Caribbean. Rest assured, this fiber optic line is NOT for the Cuban people. It is for the Cuban government. BIG difference.

Using the two-pair fiber optic cable does not mean that Cuba will stop being tied to satellite internet service as it is the only means to access the web because of the U.S. blockade against the country; however, operation costs will drop by 25%. “because of the U.S. blockade against the country” So Cuba won’t be getting internet access from Venezuela? What’s the sense then?

Hmmm. 3000 times faster but costs will drop by 25%? Would love to see the Cuban accounting method for that one.
 
Without such ties, Cubans could transmit medical consultations, teleconferences and teach courses on real time that could support collaboration programs established within the ALBA framework. So the US is to blame for this too? Wow?

Odalis Lopez, specialist with the Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies assured that the quality of communications will see a boost, fiber optic over copper? Yeah. I would think the quality would see a “boost” however it doesn’t necessarily translate into an expansion on services because the country still needs to pay for them to internet providers. Don’t worry, I’m sure France or some other country will give Raul a “loan”.

The official did point out that the project will certainly favor information independence for Latin America.

END

So, too sarcastic? But true right? Sad but true.