Sector roundup: Internet in Cuba, new datacenter association, teamwork and training in Dominican Rep

Average monthly mobile data consumption in Cuba is 7.7GB per person and the country has about 6mn users, according to figures from the communications ministry.

The level of consumption is possible thanks to a second submarine cable, Arimao, which connects the island with Martinique, according to minister Mayra Arevich Marín.

During her presentation at the Informática 2024 event, the minister said Cuba is making progress in the deployment of digital terrestrial TV. The project is 77% advanced for the standard signal and 50% for high definition, she said.

The transition to digital TV will free up frequencies in the 700MHz band for mobile services.

Etecsa, the state company that has a monopoly on telecommunications in Cuba, launched 4G in 2019.

DATA CENTRE ASSOCIATION

The Caribbean Data Centre Association (CDA) was formed in Curaçao with the aim of collaborating in the development of the digital economy in the region.

CDA will represent the interests of commercial datacenters in the Caribbean and will collaborate with the promotion of good practices, knowledge exchange, innovation and sustainability strategies.

The founding members of CDA are Datasur and Blue Nap Americas.

TEAMWORK

Liberty Latin America announced the launch of direct routing for Teams phones, Microsoft's cloud telephone exchange service for companies.

Liberty uses direct routing to connect the Teams app and Teams Phone to the public switched telephone network (PSTN), allowing users to make and receive calls on any device using their Teams app.

The service is being rolled out to operating companies in Central America, South America and the Caribbean with several markets launched in 2023 and more coming in 2024, according to a release.

TRAINING

Dominican Republic regulator Indotel and the technological institute of the Americas (ITLA) opened a new digital skills training center in Pedernales province.

The educational facility is part of an agreement signed by Indotel and ITLA for the expansion of technology centers in the country and is the third after ones in San Pedro de Macorís and Moca.