Q&A on Cuban Cell Phone Service

Q. What kind of service will be provided?

A. Details will be announced in the coming days, but it is likely to be the same service now available to foreigners and elite Cubans, which supports long distance national and international calls, and text messaging. It likely won't include e-mail and other smart-phone services. Camera phones available to everyday Cubans also won't be able to transmit images directly.

Q. So what's really new here?

A. Until now, only Cubans who work for foreign companies or have top government positions have been able to get legal contracts to use cell phones. A growing number of Cubans have managed to get around this by using other people's contracts or phones left behind by visiting friends or relatives from other countries, and the government hasn't stopped them. Now Cuba says it will legalize cell phone use and make it much more accessible.

Q. Why now?

A. Raul Castro said when he became president last month that he would quickly lift some prohibitions to create new government income. Some also believe that allowing Cubans to have modern gadgets such as cell phones, personal computers and microwave ovens may dissuade them from demanding deeper changes in the state-controlled economy.

Q. Who will provide the service?

A. Cuba's state-controlled telecommunications monopoly, a joint venture between the government and Telecom Italia.

Q. How much will it cost?