Cuba is one of the least connected places in the world. An hour at the internet cafe costs over half a monthly wage and this costliness has kept most people offline. But times are changing.

Instead of being connected to the global internet, a small team of Cuban youth has been making their own intranet, allowing them to chat and play games.

Like Us on Facebook

Rafael Antonio Broche Moreno built the inexpensive network from Wi-Fi antennas and Ethernet cables. Over 9,000 people are already on the new Cuban internet.

People connect to meet up, chat and play video games like World of Warcraft and Call of Duty. Moreno claims the government knows about their covert operation, and actively watch and remove people breaking the law.

Cuba doesn't allow pornography or any political talk on the internet. Even though the government claims the high-prices are due to U.S. infrastructure embargos, it seems more likely services are priced high to keep people away from the internet.

The new communications pact between the U.S. and Cuba might lead to broader access of the internet, alongside reforms in the Cuban government within the next few years.

The homegrown intranet is just one of many government and public country-driven internet projects in other countries. These efforts are China's internet blocking system; North Korea's internet and Iran's proposed enclosed internet. 

TagsCuba, intranet, Wi-fi, SNet