Isla de la Juventud faces prolonged telecommunications blackout

The state-run telecommunications company ETECSA is working to restore services on Isla de la Juventud following a major communication blackout that began on September 8. The disruption was caused by damage to two main connectivity routes in the submarine cable, cutting off mobile services and partially disrupting landlines.

ETECSA reported that technicians have located the exact point of the disruption, but adverse weather conditions have hindered repair efforts. The process requires bringing the damaged cable section to the sea surface to perform precise fiber splicing. Due to these complications, the company has not yet provided a definitive timeline for the full restoration of services.

As a temporary measure, ETECSA has implemented limited satellite links to maintain essential services, including the broadcast of national radio and television signals. The outage has caused significant distress for residents and families abroad who have been unable to communicate with loved ones on the island.