Using Phones in Cuba



Using Phones in Cuba

As of August 2013

Fictional phone number for use in examples: 0 – (City Code) - 222-4466

To communicate by telephone in Cuba, keep in mind:

1. The location of the phone you are calling and the corresponding City Code

2. Whether you are using a landline or a cell phone

3. Whether you are calling a landline or a cell phone

City Codes: Havana – 7 Matanzas – 45 (Varadero)

Pinar del Rio – 48 Cienfuegos – 43

Artemisa – 47 Sancti Spiritus – 41 (Trinidad)

Santiago de Cuba – 226

Villa Clara – 42 (Santa Clara)

Landlines (teléfono fijo) – using a landline is the cheapest way to be in touch with other people if you are calling another landline. The cost is low enough that Cubans see it as nearly inconsequential.

If you are calling . . .

Between 2 landlines that are both in Havana – dial 222-4466

From a cell phone in Havana to a landline in Havana – dial 0-7-222-4466

From a landline in a different region to a landline in Havana – dial 0-7-222-4466

For long distance calls within Cuba that do not involve Havana, dial 01 + City Code + number.

Cuban Cell Phones (móvil) – The Cuban government’s telecommunications company (ETECSA: Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba S.A.) has a cell phone service named Cubacel. See: . If you have a Cuban cell phone and a number or line (linea), you will need to purchase minutes (saldo) to put on it. Saldo is sold only in CUCs. Cards with different amounts of saldo are sold at ETECSA stores. Follow the instructions on the card how to add value to your cell phone.

Cell phone calls are more expensive – about CUC$0.30/minute (to either a landline or another cell phone). Each text costs about CUC$0.10. If someone calls your cell phone from another cell phone it does not cost you any money to answer. However, if someone calls your cell phone from a landline, your cell phone will be charged CUC$0.20/minute.

Cubacel occasionally has 2 for 1 sales (doble saldo) that usually are only available for purchase in the US. When such a sale is on, someone in the US has to visit the Cubacel website, input your cell phone number, and pay with a credit card to recharge your account. A credit card charge of CUC$20 results in CUC$40 worth of credit.

Cell phone numbers always have a 5 in front of them – even when dialed from another cell phone.

If you are calling . . .

Between 2 cell phones that are both in Havana – dial 5-222-4466

From a cell phone in Havana to a landline in Havana – dial 05-222-4466

For long distance calls within Cuba that do not involve Havana, dial 015 + City Code + number.

ETECSA Store Locations – There are two ETECSA stores near the Martin Luther King Center (MLKC). The more formal store in on 51 Avenue and 106th Street. The second one, inside of the bus station (Terminal de Pasaje) on 41 Ave and 88th Street, tends to have shorter lines. Its posted hours are daily from 8:30 am – 7 pm, but it is sometimes closed during this time frame.

Public Phones – A phone card (tarjeta propia) sold at ETECSA stores (see below) can be used at blue public ETECSA phones. Phone cards are sold in CUCs ($5, $10, and $20) and in Cuban national currency (3, 5, and 7 pesos). Once you have the card, follow the instructions in it, enter the access code on the card, and use the same basic dialing instructions for calls from a landline. Local calls can be made with a CUC or a peso phone card. International calls can only be made with a CUC phone card.

There are also public phones that are pay phones that can be used to make local calls using a one Cuban national peso coin (with a star). There is a pay phone outside on the patio (under the stairway) at the MLKC.

Calling the US – to call the US from Cuba, dial Cuba’s international access code 119, then 1 + area code + number. The cost of phone calls to the US varies depending on how they are placed.

Calls to the US made on a Cuba cell phone cost between CUC$2.50-4.00/minute. Cuban cell phones cannot be used to text the US.

Most landlines in Cuba do not have international service. To use a landline to call the US, you will need to go through an international operator by dialing 66-12-12 and calling collect (reverse charges or cobro revertido). Calls cost around SUS$2/minute.

CUC phone cards can be used to make calls to the US at blue public ETECSA phones for about CUC$2/minute.

The most economical way to talk by phone with someone from the US is to have them use Skype to call a landline in Cuba. This costs about US$1.50/minute.

CGE staff carry a British cell phone 24/7 for communication (calls and texts) to and from the US in emergencies. Calls from Cuba to and from the US cost about US$3/minute. Texts received on a British cell phone are free. Texts sent from a British cell phone cost US$.85 each. Please note that a Cuban cell phone can call or text a British cell phone.

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