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Response to Inside Cuba’s D.I.Y. Internet Revolution


Prior to reading the article, I was completely unaware of the network infrastructure and internet accessibility of Cuba. In the beginning of my read, Cuba's network reminded me of a more primative example of China's. Where the government have restrictions and complete control of people's access of the internet. The Chinese government blocks Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, etc... to block foreign media content and online interactions from China. However there are plenty of VPNs for people to purchase to "get over the wall", which is a common phrase used to describe VPNs. The facinating thing about Cuba's network is that they buy pacquetes(a physical hardrive that contains a week's load of digial content) to get over their wall. This smuggling method is a result of the internet speed and content restriction of the government(ETECSA), and in my opinion it makes the act of exploring foreign digtal entertainment seem more illegal than it should be. Well it shouldn't be illegal in the first place but in this situation, it's not only dragging cuba's advancement in technology but it's brainwashing the citizens, making them believe that watching an episode of Modern Family illegal and wrong. Havana's street network SNET is like a local version of what the Chinese provides to make up for its network bans. A variety of clones of the most popular banned networks such as Instagram, Youtube, and Facebook. Such isolation forms a barrier between IT and the international community, which means more harm than good. But people will "Resolver" one way or another and overtime the internet infrastructure of Cuba will evolve on its users.