The ongoing electricity crisis in Cuba during 2026 has severely impacted the nation's telecommunication systems. The state-run monopoly, ETECSA, acknowledged in a statement this Thursday that extended power outages are causing entire communities to lose signal, disrupting internet connectivity and overwhelming the few radio bases that manage to stay operational.
One of the most severe incidents occurred on September 18, when a complete collapse of the National Electrical System (SEN)—marking the eighth nationwide outage of the year—rendered over 80% of radio base stations and nearly 70% of telecommunications cabinets out of service. Internet traffic losses reached 58% compared to similar periods, as confirmed by the company itself.
As of Thursday, the situation remained dire. The Unión Eléctrica (UNE) reported at 6:00 AM a mere availability of 837 MW against a demand of 2,524 MW, with 1,701 MW affected. A deficit of 2,103 MW was anticipated during peak hours. Numerous thermoelectric units remain out of operation, including those at the Mariel, Guiteras, Nuevitas, Felton, and Renté power plants, while unit three of the Cienfuegos power plant is offline due to a lack of fuel.
Impact on Telecommunications and Company Strategy
"In recent months, the availability of mobile and fixed services has dwindled, causing increasing dissatisfaction among the population. This is largely because many technological sites shut down due to the absence of electrical power," ETECSA stated.
The company has approximately 77,000 reports of interrupted fixed services, often due to resource shortages and the cost of maintaining an outdated infrastructure. Fixed-line telephony fails to cover its operational expenses, forcing ETECSA to subsidize it with income from mobile telephony, an equilibrium disrupted by the energy crisis.
In response, ETECSA has halted the expansion of its access network—comprising radio bases, cabinets, and WiFi points—to focus resources on transitioning to photovoltaic energy. "It is not feasible to continue investing in network expansion without the capacity to support the telecommunications infrastructure energetically," the company justified.
Efforts and Challenges in Renewable Energy Transition
By the end of the statement, 64 municipal centers had their main facilities equipped with solar panels, with the most progress seen in Pinar del Río, Villa Clara, Matanzas, and Granma. However, the installed capacity does not always guarantee 24-hour service.
To sustain sites with national and provincial reach, ETECSA relies on generators that sometimes operate for more than 20 consecutive hours, causing disturbances to nearby residents. The company recognized that daily supply and maintenance are prioritized but insufficient given the scale of the outages.
Adding to structural issues is vandalism: recent weeks have seen reports of solar panel thefts and destruction in Santiago de Cuba, further exacerbating the system's fragility.
Customer Frustration and Economic Strain
Public discontent is heightened by the contrast with tariff increases imposed in May 2025, when ETECSA limited top-ups in Cuban pesos to 360 monthly and raised data package prices, a move the company admitted would affect nearly half of its customers. "Is this why prices were raised last year?" one user questioned on social media, capturing the widespread sentiment.
The question remains unanswered by ETECSA, which has not announced any compensations or provided a timeline for service normalization.
Understanding Cuba's Telecommunications Crisis
What is causing the telecommunications collapse in Cuba?
The telecommunications collapse in Cuba is primarily due to prolonged power outages affecting signal availability, internet connectivity, and radio base operations.
How is ETECSA addressing the power crisis?
ETECSA is halting network expansion to focus on transitioning to solar energy and maintaining critical sites with generators, despite challenges in supply and maintenance.
What challenges is ETECSA facing in its renewable energy efforts?
Challenges include insufficient solar capacity to ensure 24-hour service and vandalism, such as theft and destruction of solar panels.