Google testing the waters in Cuba
Source: Politico
Google testing the waters in Cuba
By Nancy Scola
6/13/15 3:12 PM EDT
A Google executive is headed to Cuba this weekend to explore bringing better Internet access to the island, and the search giant has made a related proposal to the Cuban government, according to a State Department official.
Its the latest sign that U.S. tech companies are testing the seriousness of Cubas interest in opening up to outside investment after President Barack Obamas announcement of a historic thaw in relations and the Raúl Castro-led governments recent pledge to bring Internet access to all Cubans by 2020.
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In Cuba today, only about five percent of the population has Internet access, and cellphone service can be sloth-like where its available at all. Google is known for its experimentation with non-traditional ways of spreading the Internet, often routing around incumbent providers. Its Project Loon uses high-altitude balloons to carry access to hard-to-connect places, and Google Fiber has forged partnerships with U.S. cities to sell moderately-priced, ultra-high-speed broadband services.
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The Cuba trip has been organized by the Council of the Americas, a 50-year-old trade group founded by David Rockefeller. The group will stay in Habana Vieja, Havanas charming if crumbling historic section, and is scheduled to return Thursday. The visit coincides with the six-month anniversary of President Obamas announcement of a thaw in relations with Cuba, including the loosening of sanctions that, said Obama, have denied Cubans access to technology.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/06/google-testing-the-waters-in-cuba-118974.html#ixzz3czO5rauJ
Reter
(2,188 posts)n/t
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)Google, Citibank, Exxon Mobil, Wal-Mart, and Apple were not on board. Wait until the Cubans get to enjoy free market health insurance
Judi Lynn
(160,707 posts)and Cubans have known about it for years. They steadfastly insist they will never let that happen, but we already know how the needs, the will of the people are NEVER respected once the great, heavily militarized steamroller gets the upper hand.
The US has never respected Cubans since the 1800's, and probably before! Deepest disrespect. The only respect considered was for the Spanish-descended landowners and their puppet politicians in Havana, the same people who employed the death squads during Batista's time running things.