El Paquete Semanal

El Paquete Semanal ("The Weekly Package") or El Paquete is a one terabyte collection of digital material distributed since around 2008[1] on the underground market in Cuba as a substitute for broadband Internet.[2] In 2015 it was the primary source of entertainment for millions of Cubans.[1] Lower tiered packages are also available for a lower price at sizes ranging from 5-100gb.

The most popular content is TV series, soap operas, music and the illegal classifieds but it also contains films, video clips, Spanish language news websites, computer technology websites, instructional videos and advertisements for local Cuban businesses. Most buyers request only certain parts of the Package which may sell for as little as $1 US.[2][3]

Since a 2011 legal property reform regarding private enterprise, a Cuban advertising firm called Etres has used the new regulations surrounding advertising to legally charge local businesses a small fee to arrange for a short clip or poster promoting their establishment to feature in the Package.[3]

In May 2016 it was still unknown who compiled the material or from where it was obtained.[4][2] Some have theorized that the lack of pornographic material and lack of anti-government views in the package may indicate the Cuban government is involved in its production.[5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Alejandro Rodríguez. "Voces desde Cuba: El millonario negocio del peculiar “internet” cubano sin conexión a la red", bbc.com, 10 September 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2017. (In Spanish)
  2. 1 2 3 Fernandes, Sujatha; Halkin, Alexandra (20 December 2014). "Do Cubans Really Want U.S.-Style Internet Freedom?". NACLA Report on the Americas. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  3. 1 2 San Pedro, Emilio (10 August 2015). "Banned Cuban internet delivered weekly by hand". BBC News. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  4. ↑ "Palmira Koukkari Mgenga om unga kubaner i en tid av förändring", Radiokorrespondenterna, Sveriges radio, 22 May 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2016. (Swedish)
  5. ↑ Young, Nora; Fernandes, Sujatha (25 January 2015). "Cuba's underground alternative to the internet". CBC Radio. Retrieved 25 January 2015.


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