Nearly two months after signing agreements for roaming and direct interconnection with Cuban telecommunications authorities, AT&T on Tuesday announced the launch of roaming service in the country.
According to AT&T, customers can now talk, text and use their data while in Cuba using the same number they use in the United States.
“We know our customers want uninterrupted connectivity and a continuous mobile experience. This is especially true as more visit Cuba,” said Bill Hague, executive vice president, AT&T Global Connection Management. “Extending service to our customers while they are in Cuba further solidifies our position as having the best global coverage of any U.S wireless provider.”
But the service will come at an extra cost – and it’s not cheap.
AT&T said voice calls will be offered at a rate of $3 per minute, while SMS messages will be 50 cents, and MMS messages will be $1.30 per message. Data will be available for $2.05 per megabyte, AT&T said.
The carrier’s costs are even higher than those offered by Sprint, which also signed a direct roaming agreement with Cuba’s telecommunications authority.
Sprint offers voice calls when roaming in Cuba at a rate of $2.49 per minute, SMS messaging for 50 cents per sent message and data at $1.99 per megabyte.
Verizon also offers Cuba roaming at a rate of $2.99 per minute for voice calls and $2.05 per megabyte for data. The carrier offers standard international messaging rates.
