Seven Castles

Socialism and Mobile Phones

                                      

April 17, 2008

 

Both China and Cuba claim themselves socialist countries. However, they tell quite different stories about mobile phones in their own countries. While China has been the largest mobile phone market in the world, and China Mobile, the world's largest mobile carrier in terms of subscribers, recently launched a trial service of homegrown 3G mobile phones in time for the Beijing Olympic Games, Cuba's government just lifted restrictions on ownership and use of mobile phones, marking a small but significant step away from the Fidel Castro era.

 

According to a new decree, the Cuban public could have prepaid contracts for mobile phones, a luxury previously reserved for senior party officials and employees of foreign companies. However, contracts will have to be paid for in Cuban convertible pesos, a parallel currency geared towards tourists and foreigners worth 24 times the peso used by most Cubans. Few will initially be able to afford the opportunity, but the decree was welcomed as evidence that the authorities were serious about addressing longstanding grievances. This shows there is a change in mentality at the top and recognition that Cuba has to move into the 21st century.

 

Some Cubans have a mobile phone service in the name of foreigners or their companies, but the island still has the lowest mobile phone use in Latin America. Now, the Cuban citizens who acquired mobile phones indirectly could change the titles and natural-born Cubans who are interested in mobile phones may sign up for the new contracts. 

【作者: zhangliping】【访问统计:】【2008年04月17日 星期四 05:28】【注册】【打印】