Miami-focused plan provides calling, text messaging to Cuba for Boost customers
U.S.-based mobile operators are quickly taking advantage of the recent thaw in the relationship with Cuba, with Sprint’s Boost Mobile division announcing a new rate plan that includes a bucket of calling and unlimited messaging from the U.S. to Cuba.
The Cuba Monthly Connect plan begins at $50 per month, and includes 15 minutes of calling from the U.S. to Cuba and unlimited text messaging. Through the end of May, customers who port their number over to Boost Mobile will receive an additional 25 calling minutes for the first month, while current Boost Mobile customers can receive 50 minutes of calling to Cuba for $15 valid for the first 30 days.
The plan also includes standard Boost Mobile features, including unlimited calling and messaging within the U.S. and 5 gigabytes of high-speed data services. Customers can upgrade to 10 GB of high-speed data for $10 more per month.
The Cuba Monthly Connect plan is currently limited to Boost Mobile dealers in the Miami area.
“With the recent government expansion of relations with Cuba, and Miami being an important market for the Boost brand, we wanted to combine a promotion with a way to give back to Cuban-Americans and make it easier for them to call friends and family in Cuba,” said Dow Draper, president of Boost Mobile and Sprint Prepaid.
President Barack Obama late last year announced that U.S. telecommunications companies will be allowed to roll out infrastructure and provide commercial services in Cuba. As part of the announcement, U.S. companies are now able to export and sell communications devices, hardware, software and other items that apply to updating Cuba’s current communications system.
Last month, IDT reached an agreement with Cuba’s national telecom provider ETECSA to exchange international, long-distance voice traffic directly between the U.S. and Cuba. IDT said the deal was an important first step toward the liberalization of telecommunications between the two countries, and makes it easier and more affordable for customers to call friends and family on the island.
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