What you should know about combined plans#
Mobile data internet arrived in Cuba three years ago, but it was not until August 2021 that ETECSA, the country’s only telecommunications company, gave users the option to buy megabytes, messages, and minutes as part of the same package.
With the new offer, Cubans can choose between three combined plans , priced at 110, 250, and 500 pesos.
What is the best mobile service plan in Cuba?#
The answer depends on how each resource is used, which network is used to access the internet, and each person’s budget.
The people who benefit most are those with 4G/LTE , because they can use all the mobile data included in the plans. Compared with people who connect only through 3G, the difference is 800 MB in the cheapest offer and 4.5 GB in the most expensive one.
Some tools let you calculate how many gigabytes you need in a month based on your internet activity, which can help you plan. Still, because the Cuban context is always different, here are some recommendations for specific situations.
500 CUP combined plan#
This is the most expensive option, but also the best in amount-price terms. If you connect often, whether for leisure or out of necessity, the 500 CUP plan is the one you need. In total, it includes 75 minutes for national calls, 80 SMS, and 8 GB if you browse on the 4G network.
The difference between networks is significant. If you use 3G, you get 3.5 GB of mobile data, though the price is the same. The number of minutes and SMS does not change.
In general, the 500 CUP plan is enough to interact on social media, visit news websites, play videos, and even download apps. If you manage calls carefully and use messaging apps such as WhatsApp or Telegram , it may be enough for a full month.
If you receive recharges from abroad , using the main balance to buy this combined plan is the best investment.
250 CUP combined plan#
4G users get 3.5 GB in total, while 3G users get only 1.5 GB. Both also receive 35 minutes for national calls and 40 SMS.
With this offer, you will need to reduce social media activity and limit video playback so consumption does not jump.
For reference, according to Rastreator , Instagram usually uses 1.5 MB for every five photos, while videos can reach 10 MB per minute. On Twitter, one gigabyte lets you view or write around 9,730 tweets, as long as they do not include videos or high-quality images. On Facebook, one gigabyte could let you browse for 10 hours, also without playing videos, downloading images, or using its games.
In short, this 250 peso plan is not very recommendable, because its amount-cost ratio is weaker than the 500 CUP plan. You pay 50% of the price but receive 47% of the minutes and 44% of the mobile data.
110 CUP combined plan#
The lowest-cost offer is recommended only if you have a tight budget or if your internet activity is light. It offers just 1.4 GB in total for 4G users, while 3G users get only 600 MB. Both have 15 minutes for national calls and 20 SMS.
In this case, it is wise to use every available data-saving option to make these limited resources go further.
At first glance, it looks like the cheapest option. But compared with the 500 CUP plan, you pay 22% of the price for 17.5% of the internet and 20% of the call minutes.
The cheaper the plan, the worse the amount-cost relationship. Buying the cheapest options only makes sense if you have to adjust to your budget. For people who receive recharges from abroad , the best offer is always the 500 CUP plan.
Interested in saving mobile data? See these tips below
The three combined plans are valid for 30 days, and mobile data, minutes, and SMS can accumulate if a new plan is bought before the deadline. All include an additional 300 MB for browsing the national network, sites with the “.cu” domain.
Fonoma is a service for recharges to Cuba:
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