Cuba and satphones

[Nelsons]

Hi everybody,
I read that the authorities in Cuba have prohibited sat phones. Can anybody confirm and if so, what are you doing with sat equipment while sailing Cuba?
Cheers
H

[belizesailor]

When I was last in Cuba, admittedly many years ago, authorities sealed all or our small electronics including satt phone in a drawer below. They put a bit of "witness" tape on it (which delamnates when removed)...so they could tell if it had been opened. They removed the seal when we cleared out. Their stated reason was that hand held electronics had been used to coordinate defections.

This was on the N shore which tends to be more vigilant about such things.

Hopefully somone can update on more current policy.

[GordMay]

The import of satellite phones and GPS systems is forbidden by the Cuban Customs unless you have a permit from the Cuban Ministry of Informatics and Communications.
The official statement of the government is that the phones are part of the secret U.S. cyberwar and are used to destabilize the country.
So don't bring a sat phone into the country, at best the phone is confiscated but a long prison sentence maybe part of the deal.
Ask Allan Gross, a subcontractor (worked for Development Alternatives Inc. Or DAI), for USAID ( US agency for International Development).
Allan Gross distributed satphones and other wireless communication equipment to the Jewish community in Havana.
He was officially accused of spying and undermining the Cuban State and sentenced to 15 years in prison (served 5).
➥ https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/4...ones-into-cuba

Other countries that restrict Sat Phone usage, in various ways, or ban them entirely:
Burma/Myanmar, Chad, China, India, Libya, Nigeria, North Korea, Russia, & Sudan.
E&OE

[Nelsons]

Thanks guys but you both disagree and I get confused. Sealing the stuff would be fine, prison is not. Well, as I am an European there shouldn’t be any suspicion that I am spying for the US.

So can I get there with my equipment or better not?
Thanks

[belizesailor]

Ive got a friend who has cruised the S coast recently, I will check w him for an update. There are other CF'ers who have been recently too, Ive seen their posts.

Update: friend had a satt phone aboard with no issues (no impoundment, no confiscation, no prison). N coast may differ.

[Flagman101]

Originally Posted by Nelsons

Thanks guys but you both disagree and I get confused. Sealing the stuff would be fine, prison is not. Well, as I am an European there shouldn’t be any suspicion that I am spying for the US.

So can I get there with my equipment or better not?
Thanks

Did you ask the cuban authorities?
They do answer when asked.

[mario f]

As said above, equipment gets sealed with witness tape... for us was only the sat phone and drone, all other elex they just wanted to know what you had. Delorme, spot etc. no issues.

This is within the past 4 months.

[belizesailor]

There you go, now youve got N & S coasts experiences within the past year.

[stevec195]

My experience in country-recently is sometimes the officials asking the questions don’t really want to know the answer. It was nice to not have to purchase a local SIM card; and no, the black trucks with antennas on top did not show up.

[barnakiel]

My client's sat phones got locked up as soon as they entered the Hemingway's marina in La Habana.

barnakiel

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by mario f

As said above, equipment gets sealed with witness tape... for us was only the sat phone and drone, all other elex they just wanted to know what you had. Delorme, spot etc. no issues.



This is within the past 4 months.

Was that on the N or S coast?

[stevec195]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

My client's sat phones got locked up as soon as they entered the Hemingway's marina in La Habana.

barnakiel

Yes, if you tell them that you have a sat phone it will be sealed