Cubans are able to have WiFi in their homes, another step forward in the diffusion of the internet, which Cuba's Vice-Minister of Communications says is a tool to defend the revolution.

Cuba expands its access to the Internet

Google servers in Cuba will store content from popular sites like YouTube, allowing the content to be delivered more quickly to Cuban users

Alphabet Inc’s Google signed an agreement with the Cuban government on Monday to place computer servers on the island to speed Google services there, news agency Reuters reports. Alphabet Inc’s chairman Eric Schmidt signed the deal with Mayra Arevich Marin, president of state telecommunications monopoly ETECSA. Google servers in Cuba will store content from popular sites like YouTube, allowing the content to be delivered more quickly to Cuban users. “This deal allows ETECSA to use our technology to reduce latency by caching some of our most popular high-bandwidth content like YouTube videos at a local level," a Google statement said. "This may improve reception of cached materials, but not for example email which depends on local bandwidth,” a local telecommunications technician told Reuters on condition of anonymity. Only 5.6 per cent of Cuban homes had either intranet or internet access last year, according to a UN agency. The deal comes after the Obama administration had pressed Cuban officials to complete pending deals with US firms before President Obama leaves office next month. The Obama administration hopes such deals could help make permanent its moves to open diplomatic and commercial ties between the two countries. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

Google signs internet deal with Cuba's telecommunications monopoly

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Cuba expands its access to the Internet

Google signs internet deal with Cuba's telecommunications monopoly