Cuba will host the World Youth Summit of the International Telecommunications Union (UIT), at a time when a prolonged economic crisis and energy that impacts strongly on this and other sectors of the country.
Expected from March 11 to 13 at the Varadero spa, the forum will also take place in the middle of the announced government initiatives to capture currencies and stop the disinversion of the sector, which particularly affect connectivity and mobile telephony on the island, and cause discomfort and criticisms of the population.
The event will bring together young leaders and experts in the Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) sector with the purpose of promoting digital empowerment and amplifying youth voices in an increasingly connected world, according to The newspaper Granma.
Under the motto “amplify the voices of young people in ICT for a connected future”, the summit aims in action of artificial intelligence in many orders of life.
The participation of more than 300 young people from various geographies and social environments of the world is expected, including UIT members, envoys from generation Connect – composed of people between 18 and 25 years old, who act as a propagation channel of digital development -, in addition to youth delegates invited by the United Nations and other organizations.
Cuba on Internet highways: realities, challenges and government plans in the midst of the crisis
Master lines
Dr. Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, director of the Office of Telecommunications Development (BDT), stressed that the fundamental purpose of the forum is “to create a space for young people to exchange and generate concrete proposals.”
The summit will also seek to explore the potential of young minds in the digital era and promote a global dialogue that actively involves those interested in digital empowerment, artificial intelligence and sustainability. In that last topic, the creation of inclusive, safe and sustainable digital environments will be discussed.
Likewise, another of the priorities of the academic meeting is the reduction of the digital gap, with the sights placed in strategies that reduce the current imbalances in digital competences between different regions and demographic groups.
In addition, young Cubans are expected to present projects that reflect the progress in the development of ICT, including initiatives of the young computer club, an institution created in 1987 and not oblivious to the deterioration of infrastructure and logistics of their profile.
At the end of the meeting, a report will be prepared that will collect the perspectives and challenges faced by the participants.
The document will serve as a guide for the political leaders and members of the UIT, helping to harmonize national, regional and global digital agendas.
Cuba, a connected country, but with blackouts
The World Youth Summit of the International Telecommunications Union will occur in a country with 8 million active mobile lines, 95% of which are enabled to access the Internet, considerable traffic that does not have a support in the current technological infrastructures of Support, “many times associated with energy problems.”
According to a report by the Executive President of Etecsa, Mayra Averich, presented last January, in an environment of 5600 Radiobases, half does not have energy availability to sustain itself without electricity in critical moments; Many go out automatically or only work for an hour.
“If the radiobase has several technologies (2g, 3g, 4g), the battery is consumed much faster. This is a critical element for us, since it not only affects the population directly, but also impacts the quality of the operation, ”he established then.
During 2024, several layers of the network were worked on, but the investments have been very low, the official recognized.
Investments that are being planned, estimated, must include energy solutions, such as solar panels in rural communities and other alternatives.
On the other hand, 10 % of Radiobases have hardware failures (cells, base bands, etc.), and they have been able to replace the lack of money. “Last year we do not receive equipment or spare parts for this,” said the directive.
He added that 76 % of the terminals in Cuba support 4G and that 90 % of the models to use in the hands of the population are smart equipment or smartphones.
