Verizon's direct connection deal with Etecsa underscores U.S. carriers' interest in Cuba

Verizon's direct connection deal with Etecsa underscores U.S. carriers'
interest in Cuba
March 15, 2016 | By Colin Gibbs

Verizon inked a direct connection agreement with Cuba's government-run
telecommunications carrier Etecsa, Reuters reported, illustrating how
eager U.S. carriers are to expand to a market that was off limits until
recently. The deal will allow voice services to connect directly between
the two countries once the technical testing requirements are completed,
Etecsa said, eliminating the need for third-party networks that can be
costly and reduce quality.

Verizon last fall became the first U.S. operator to offer roaming in
Cuba, and Sprint followed two months later when it signed the first
direct roaming agreement with Etecsa. AT&T is said to be negotiating a
deal with Etecsa as well. While the U.S. trade embargo of Cuba remains,
the Obama administration developed regulations last year allowing
American telecoms to do business with Cuba. U.S. operators clearly see
opportunities on the island where the telecom infrastructure lags behind
much of the rest of the world. Article

Source: Verizon's direct connection deal with Etecsa underscores U.S.
carriers' interest in Cuba - FierceWireless -
http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/verizons-direct-connection-deal-etecsa-underscores-us-carriers-interest-cub/2016-03-15