COMMUNICATIONS and entertainment provider Digicel has partnered with Cuban telecoms provider ETECSA to offer lower mobile roaming rates for tourists visiting the Spanish-speaking country.

In a press release yesterday, Digicel announced a new roaming SIM card which travellers to Cuba seeking easy access to data at 3G speeds and phone calls at great rates could purchase prior to their stay in the country.

Digicel Group, which has more than 14 million subscribers in 32 markets throughout the Caribbean, Central America and Asia Pacific, says the new roaming card covers all 15 provinces in Cuba, including all the main tourist spots on the island.

The card is available at DigicelCubaRoaming.com or through Amazon at a cost of US$25.

According to data provided by the American electronic commerce and cloud computing company, Digicel’s Cuba roaming SIM card is preloaded with 100 MB of data, plus free incoming SMS and has recharge plans of up to 500 MB.

Purchase of the SIM requires no contract and offers rates as low as US$0.17 per MB, while major USA carriers charge US$2.00 per MB when roaming in Cuba.

“No worry, no waste! All data billed per KB; voice calls billed per second,” Amazon noted on its website.

It added that the SIM is compatible with all unlocked devices on the GSM 850/900 and WCDMA 900 frequencies.

Digicel was however quick to point out that while the SIM cards connect to Cuba’s 3G tourist network, speeds are dependent on the local network in Cuba.

“Staying connected while in Cuba is a high priority for travellers,” Digicel Group CEO Colm Delves said. “Working with our Cuban partner, ETECSA, our goal is to provide great service at affordable prices and help to make Cuba an even more attractive location for visitors.”

Executive president of ETECSA, Myra Arevich Marin, has welcomed the partnership with Digicel, given the company’s “fantastic footprint and reputation across the region”.

“We have forged a fruitful relationship and look forward to connecting visitors to Cuba to the people and things they care about most,” he said.