Castro lifts ban on mobiles for ordinary Cubans

PRESIDENT Raul Castro’s government said yesterday it is lifting a ban on mobile phones for ordinary Cubans, a luxury previously reserved for those who worked for foreign firms or held key posts with the State.

It was the first official announcement of the lifting of a major restriction under the 76-year-old Castro, and marked the kind of small freedom many have been hoping he would embrace since succeeding his older brother Fidel last month.

Telecom monopoly Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba SA said it would allow the general public to sign prepaid contracts in Cuban Convertible Pesos, which are geared toward foreigners and worth 24 times the regular peso. The average monthly state salary is just 408 Cuban pesos, a little less than $20.