Cell Phone in Cuba??
Jun 7, 2007 | 10:50 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DFW - AA EXP, SPG PLT, Hilton DIA, Hyatt - PLT, Hertz Prez
Posts: 787
Cell Phone in Cuba??
Hi
I might be visiting Cuba in the next couple of months and wanted to find out if my Cingular Blackberry would work there. Do any of the Cell providers have BB service?
If not, has anyone bought a SIM Card in Cuba for use there?
I might be visiting Cuba in the next couple of months and wanted to find out if my Cingular Blackberry would work there. Do any of the Cell providers have BB service?
If not, has anyone bought a SIM Card in Cuba for use there?
Jun 7, 2007 | 11:39 am
#2
In Memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Easton, CT, USA
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If it helps, roaming partners are listed here
http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/roa_cucc.shtml
for cuba, no US companies though
http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/roa_cucc.shtml
for cuba, no US companies though
Jun 8, 2007 | 12:22 am
#3
Join Date: May 2005
Location: MIA/SJU/MCO
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Posts: 3,333
There is no GPRS or EDGE in Cuba, so that means no Blackberry service. 
Also, no US providers will roam in Cuba to the best of my knowledge. You'll have to get a non-US SIM Card there. Cuba is predominantly in the 900mhz range, with some 1800mhz backup in large cities. On the plus side, you'll be the fastest texter out there with that keyboard 
Also, no US providers will roam in Cuba to the best of my knowledge. You'll have to get a non-US SIM Card there. Cuba is predominantly in the 900mhz range, with some 1800mhz backup in large cities. On the plus side, you'll be the fastest texter out there with that keyboard
Jun 8, 2007 | 5:38 pm
#4
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Detroit; Formerly Dubai
Posts: 3,676
GSM World is a great resource, but companies don't always update it as much as or as quickly as they should.
Cubacel.cu seems to suggest that they do have data. Look at the "transmision de datos" page. It doesn't look cheap, but it is there. Roadpost.com used to work there, but stopped coverage because Cuba's net isn't 100% reliable. Too many people complained so now it is 0% rather than 80% coverage. Cellhire also doesn't offer service.
If I were you, borrow a GSM Treo or equivalent and get a prepaid SIM down there. I would set the phone to poll my mail every hour or manually. I'd also bring a travel router or something down and try to check my e-mail as much as possible off of hotel wifi.
PS: One strange thing I learned from my Blackberry days. If a country has data roaming with your home country, it doesn't matter whether the country which is being visited actually supports Blackberry. You essential have a data tunnel to your home network and on to the Blackberry server. I had Blackberry coverage in the UAE long before the country rolled out Blackberry service because of this. I basically milked an international Blackberry plan to the breaking point.
Cubacel.cu seems to suggest that they do have data. Look at the "transmision de datos" page. It doesn't look cheap, but it is there. Roadpost.com used to work there, but stopped coverage because Cuba's net isn't 100% reliable. Too many people complained so now it is 0% rather than 80% coverage. Cellhire also doesn't offer service.
If I were you, borrow a GSM Treo or equivalent and get a prepaid SIM down there. I would set the phone to poll my mail every hour or manually. I'd also bring a travel router or something down and try to check my e-mail as much as possible off of hotel wifi.
PS: One strange thing I learned from my Blackberry days. If a country has data roaming with your home country, it doesn't matter whether the country which is being visited actually supports Blackberry. You essential have a data tunnel to your home network and on to the Blackberry server. I had Blackberry coverage in the UAE long before the country rolled out Blackberry service because of this. I basically milked an international Blackberry plan to the breaking point.
Last edited by Dubai Stu; Jun 8, 2007 at 5:51 pm Reason: Adding PS
Jun 11, 2007 | 1:50 pm
#5
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Francisco, California
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GSM World is a great resource, but companies don't always update it as much as or as quickly as they should.
Cubacel.cu seems to suggest that they do have data. Look at the "transmision de datos" page. It doesn't look cheap, but it is there. Roadpost.com used to work there, but stopped coverage because Cuba's net isn't 100% reliable. Too many people complained so now it is 0% rather than 80% coverage. Cellhire also doesn't offer service.
If I were you, borrow a GSM Treo or equivalent and get a prepaid SIM down there. I would set the phone to poll my mail every hour or manually. I'd also bring a travel router or something down and try to check my e-mail as much as possible off of hotel wifi.
PS: One strange thing I learned from my Blackberry days. If a country has data roaming with your home country, it doesn't matter whether the country which is being visited actually supports Blackberry. You essential have a data tunnel to your home network and on to the Blackberry server. I had Blackberry coverage in the UAE long before the country rolled out Blackberry service because of this. I basically milked an international Blackberry plan to the breaking point.
Cubacel.cu seems to suggest that they do have data. Look at the "transmision de datos" page. It doesn't look cheap, but it is there. Roadpost.com used to work there, but stopped coverage because Cuba's net isn't 100% reliable. Too many people complained so now it is 0% rather than 80% coverage. Cellhire also doesn't offer service.
If I were you, borrow a GSM Treo or equivalent and get a prepaid SIM down there. I would set the phone to poll my mail every hour or manually. I'd also bring a travel router or something down and try to check my e-mail as much as possible off of hotel wifi.
PS: One strange thing I learned from my Blackberry days. If a country has data roaming with your home country, it doesn't matter whether the country which is being visited actually supports Blackberry. You essential have a data tunnel to your home network and on to the Blackberry server. I had Blackberry coverage in the UAE long before the country rolled out Blackberry service because of this. I basically milked an international Blackberry plan to the breaking point.
Jun 11, 2007 | 9:39 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Detroit; Formerly Dubai
Posts: 3,676
Presuming that you are referring to Cuba, no US company has roaming in Cuba because of the embargo.
If you are referring to the UAE, then something is wrong with your account or phone's settings. Cingular has roaming agreements with Etisilat.
If you are referring to the UAE, then something is wrong with your account or phone's settings. Cingular has roaming agreements with Etisilat.
Last edited by Dubai Stu; Jun 11, 2007 at 9:55 pm
Jun 12, 2007 | 6:40 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Francisco, California
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Sorry - mis-quoted. Was in Cuba in Jan and Cingular Blackberry didn't work for voice or data, surely because (as you mentioned) the lack of roaming agreements.
Jul 17, 2007 | 8:57 pm
#8
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Los Angeles,CA,USA
Programs: UA MM, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 931
Will travel to Cuba this month, have a tri-band unlocked GSM phone.
If someone has specific knowledge of where to get SIM chip in Havana, and cost, that would be greatly appreciated.
If someone has specific knowledge of where to get SIM chip in Havana, and cost, that would be greatly appreciated.
Jul 18, 2007 | 1:02 am
#10
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Jul 18, 2007 | 1:16 am
#11
Join Date: Apr 2006
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Posts: 5,291
Yes, of course: http://www.GSMWorld.com/roaming/gsminfo/roa_cucc.shtml
Feb 15, 2009 | 7:07 pm
#12
Join Date: May 2002
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta platinum, Marriott platinum
Posts: 92
Cuba update
My wife leaves for Cuba in a week. Should she buy a global sim card or buy one when she gets there for calls to the U.S.? I saw some of the older posts and wondered what the most recent news is on this subject.
Feb 16, 2009 | 2:15 am
#13
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Romania
Posts: 141
My operator (Orange - Romania/Europe) roams in Cuba, but only voice is available.
Indeed, as mentioned above, BlackBerry will work on any network that supports data service, regardless if the network is or isn't offering that service. It's just data tunneling.
Roaming is however expensive in Cuba.
Indeed, as mentioned above, BlackBerry will work on any network that supports data service, regardless if the network is or isn't offering that service. It's just data tunneling.
Roaming is however expensive in Cuba.