| Cuban president Raul Castro has lifted the country's | | | | 240,000 internet users as of August 2007, around |
| ban on the sale of petit bourgeois merchandise like | | | | 2.1% of the population, according to ITU. Many |
| computers, DVDs, video players and other consumer | | | | internet marketers may not see Cuba as an |
| electronics goods. What does that mean to you as | | | | attractive market. |
| an internet user? Do you see an opportunity for your | | | | In the past, government-run electronics stores have |
| products to be sold in this socialist country of 11million | | | | controlled what products could be sold to Cuban |
| population? Or do you see an opportunity to have a | | | | citizens. The legal purchase of a PC was often only |
| relationship with Cuban women? Can you chat or | | | | authorized and within the financial means of |
| date Cuban women online? Previously electronic | | | | foreigners and diplomats. Cuba's proles must wait until |
| devices and appliances were classified as wasteful | | | | next year before they can buy air conditioners, |
| items. | | | | however. The dark influence of toasters won't be |
| The answers to these questions are rather negative. | | | | seen until 2010 - allegedly due to limited power |
| Reason being the computer is still beyond the reach | | | | supplies. |
| of an average Cuban. It is still consider expensive to | | | | "The country's priority will be to meet the basic |
| most Cuba peoples. The GDP per capita in Cuba is | | | | needs of the population, both material and spiritual," |
| around US$3,000. Furthermore, access to the internet | | | | Raul Castro said when he took office. The signal is |
| remains government-controlled. Assuming that the | | | | clear that easy internet access will not his first |
| abovementioned barriers are removed, one still have | | | | priority because internet access is not fall under |
| to be proficient in Spanish if you want to make your | | | | "basic needs" in most of the countries. |
| present felt in Cuba. For your information, there are | | | | |