The High Cost of Cell Phones

At half a dollar per minute of use and 150 to 200 dollars in the black market for the phone itself, cell phone service is prohibitively expensive for the average Cuban.

The two entities selling cell phone service on the island, Telcel, and Secom, only offer it to foreigners and to Cubans who are specifically authorized to have the service. That means government approval. In other words, don't expect a dissident to get a cell phone any time soon.

In any case, the service must be paid for in dollars; pesos are no good here. To pay for the $200 dollar phone and one hour of air time (for $30), an average Cuban has to work approximately ... 46 months.

one wonders if the high price is not intentional? makes you want to reach out and touch someone