Can You Hear Me Now? 20th Century Technology Comes to Cuba

People line up outside a Cubacel mobile telephone store in Havana April 14, 2008.

REUTERS/Enrique De La Osa

Reuters gushes as citizens of the island prison get to line up and wait to get a crack at buying a cell phone. Oh joy. They'd have ordered them online except hardly anyone has a computer. All I know is the fellow in orange may want to make calling a fashion consultant his first priority.

Hundreds of Cubans lined up at state-owned telephone offices on Monday as the new government under President Raul Castro began selling cellular phone service to the general public for the first time.

Thousands were expected to take advantage of the opportunity in the coming days, even though opening the service and buying the cheapest mobile phone was priced at the equivalent of more than nine months of state wages.

Yes, but they have free health care!

Naturally, the reporter fails to wonder whether the state-owned operation may have pre-planted bugs in the phone. Chances of that are pretty strong.

"It is a very good measure, but what we earn does not correspond with the price," said 33-year-old Gustavo, who nevertheless waited with around 100 others at an office in Havana's colonial district to buy the service.

Raul Castro has moved quickly to ease restrictions in the communist country since succeeding his ailing older brother Fidel Castro as president in February.

Cubans are now allowed to buy DVD players, computers and other electronic goods, and stay at tourist hotels previously reserved only for foreigners.

Wow, next thing you know they'll be able to speak freely.

Cuba has the lowest rate of cellular telephone use in Latin America and the service was restricted until now to foreigners or government officials and employees.

Customers will pay for their calls with prepaid cards bought in hard currency, and can receive and make international calls.

Wait until they find out about roaming charges.