GOOG: Alphabet Inc’s Google Signs ‘Internet Speed’ Deal With Cuba

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Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG,NASDAQ:GOOGL) and Cuba have inked a deal that will help Cuba attain access to faster Internet.

Alphabet IncIt has only been two years since President Obama met with officials from the Caribbean nation in a bid to improve relations between the two nations. Over that time, plenty has been done to normalize relations, including lifting the trade embargo, allowing Cuban cigars to be transported from Cuba and re-launched direct flights between the countries.

Now, Google’s parent company Alphabet is stepping up and rolling out an agreement with Mayra Arevich Marin, president of state telecommunications monopoly ETECSA, to give Cubans access to the Google Global Cache network.

This service includes content from Gmail, YouTube and other servers that will mark a great effort into advancing the telecommunications industry in Cuba. The Caribbean country is gradually moving towards becoming a nation that is more globalized and more in touch with the contemporary world’s technology.

However, the country’s companies will not allow U.S. corporations to wire the systems in Cuba due to concerns regarding the nation’s national security. “This may improve reception of cached materials, but not for example email which depends on local bandwidth,” a local telecommunications technician said.

This worker asked Reuters to keep his identity anonymous because the cautious approach that Cuba is taking to normalize relations with the U.S. is still being hashed out.

GOOG shares fell 0.2% Monday, while GOOGL slipped 0.3%.

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Article printed from InvestorPlace Media, https://investorplace.com/2016/12/alphabet-inc-google-goog-cuba/.

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