The company said it reestablished direct interconnection between the two countries, initially for international calls, as a result of an agreement between the firm and U.S. service provider Domestic Telecom, Inc. (IDT).
"Restoring direct (telephone) communications between the U.S. and Cuba helps improve the installations and quality of the communication between the peoples of the two nations," Etecsa said in a press release.
Due to the U.S. trade embargo, phone calls between the two countries had to be routed through third countries, making it more expensive and affecting quality.
The contract between Etecsa and Newark, New Jersey-based IDT was first reported on Feb. 20. The contract marks the first accord signed by companies from both nations since Washington and Havana announced in December they planned to restore diplomatic ties after more than half a century.
As part of the rapprochement, the U.S. has relaxed some restrictions on doing business with Cuba, especially allowing U.S. telecom firms to sell their services to Cuba.
Almost 2 million Cuban expatriates and their descendants live in the United States./ (Xinhua)
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12/3/15
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The United States and Cuba have re-established a direct telephone link, the Cuban state telecommunications company said Wednesday, in the latest step toward normalizing ties between the one-time Cold War foes...
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The telephone link between the two countries have been interrupted and restored numerous times since the 1960s, but this is the first time the connection has been resumed since 1999.
Previously phone calls between the US and Cuba had to pass through a third country, making them extremely expensive. Etecsa did not immediately announce new rates.
It is the first agreement signed between Cuban and American companies since the announcement last December that they would renew diplomatic ties after more than 50 years of hostility.
"The reestablishment of direct communications between the United States and Cuba contributes to providing better infrastructure and better communications quality between the people of our two countries," Etecsa said.
The connection was set up through a February deal signed with US firm Domestic Telecom, but could be used for other kinds of communications as well, Etecsa said.
AFP
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/125030.aspx
11/3/15