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Old 05-19-2006, 12:47 AM   #1
Baggman
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Default BlackBerry in Cuba ?

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here's a weird one, at least for the americans on the forum. i have an opportunity to go on one of the few remaining educational missions to cuba (i'm an american in america).

obviously, i want to take my 8700g and use it to stay in touch for biz and personal. i use t-mobile and called them and after asking the question ''will my bb work in cuba?'', dead silence ensued before he said ''let me put you on hold'', and then came back and said ''we can not answer that question''. ok!? also, a search of here and on yahoo turned up nothing.

wondering if any of our canadian (or other countries) bb ''forumers'' have any experience using the berry in cuba.

oh, and save me your ''communist / killer regime'' bantor as this is a worthwhile cause targeted at those that need the help.
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Old 05-19-2006, 01:22 AM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Baggman
oh, and save me your ''communist / killer regime'' bantor as this is a worthwhile cause targeted at those that need the help.
Cuba is a sanctioned country (been that way for over 40 years).. Not sure how you're getting there, but there is no legal direct way from the US (you would need to go through Canada or Mexico).

In regards to a worthwhile cause for people that need help, there are hundreds of other countries that need it more. No need violating sanction laws. Make sure you read:

http://www.treasury.gov/offices/enfo.../cuba/cuba.pdf

Sorry I can't help with your question regarding service. I guess, a logical cellular choice would be GSM. I believe neither T-Mobile or Cingular would / could answer that question for you.

There is a fine line when you start talking about and asking questions about going into sanctioned countries that most organizations will not cross.. Flags come up when you mention Cuba, Iran, Libya, N.Korea, Syria, etc.

Hope you didn't find my comments as "banter". No joking there.. It's serious business...

Just my $0.02
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Old 05-19-2006, 07:07 AM   #3
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According to www.gsmworld.com there are no GSM roaming agreements between the Cuban Telco and any US carriers. There does not seem to be any local GPRS coverage as either.
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Old 05-19-2006, 07:13 AM   #4
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Firstly - nyc2socal this is isn't a political forum, so stop. Sorry to be so rude about it but this is BlackBerryForums.com not AmericanPoliticalForums.com

Your "opinion" as to which countries need someone's help more are also utterly useless. Why not let people decide for themselves where help should go?

Please stop using BlackBerryForums.com as a soap box for your political belief.

My $0.02CAD

Last edited by omkhar; 05-19-2006 at 08:46 AM..
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Old 05-19-2006, 07:20 AM   #5
lgreenberg
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Leave this discussion to the question at hand....

Will this person's Blackberry work in Cuba or not....

Discussion of anything other than that simple question will result in the thread being closed.
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Old 05-19-2006, 07:31 AM   #6
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As far as I recall, no data will not work in most carribean countries.
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Old 05-19-2006, 07:51 AM   #7
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No roaming agreements in Cuba. No voice. No data.

earth - that is not correct. There are lots of roaming agreements in caribbean nations. US VI, BVI, St. Lucia all have roaming agreements. Aruba is a bit touchy, but they have voice.
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Old 05-19-2006, 07:56 AM   #8
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There is GSM coverage that can be seen in the following link but obviously no data coverage.
http://www.cellular-news.com/coverage/cuba.php
As was previously noted, there will be no direct roaming agreement between an American and Cuban company, but since T-Mobile is a European based company, there may be some type of agreement in place. Take your BB with you and let us know when you get back if it worked!
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Old 05-19-2006, 07:59 AM   #9
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T-Mobile USA is owned by a German company, but they do not have any roaming agreements in Cuba. And none in Libya (which I need)...

http://www.t-mobile.com/Internationa..._RoamWorldwide
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Old 05-19-2006, 07:59 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NJBlackBerry
Aruba is a bit touchy, but they have voice.
I was in Aruba a few months ago. Data was flawless all over the Island. Digicel did a good job of enabling GPRS roaming.
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Old 05-19-2006, 08:00 AM   #11
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In fact...I just checked the T-Mobile UK website and according to that site there is a roaming agreement between T-Mobile and C-Com and it states there is GPRS and 3G coverage. Check the link and choose Cuba for the country.
http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/Dispatcher...wa_land&act=cc
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Old 05-19-2006, 08:01 AM   #12
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Good to know; when we were there, T-Mobile's roaming agreement was not in place and we had to rent a phone.
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Old 05-19-2006, 08:01 AM   #13
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Kablooey - In fact, T-Mobile UK and T-Mobile US do not share roaming partners. It is not against the law for UK citizens to travel to Cuba.

http://www.t-mobile.com/Internationa..._RoamWorldwide

http://www.t-mobile.com/Internationa..._RoamWorldwide

http://www.t-mobile.com/Internationa..._RoamWorldwide
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Old 05-19-2006, 08:20 AM   #14
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And the last time I looked Puerto Rico was in the Caribbean also, and you should have no problems there either, sorry to say but I also know that you will be SOL in Cuba since I know several people who have been there and affirmed there is no agreements in place.

Quote:
Originally Posted by NJBlackBerry
No roaming agreements in Cuba. No voice. No data.

earth - that is not correct. There are lots of roaming agreements in caribbean nations. US VI, BVI, St. Lucia all have roaming agreements. Aruba is a bit touchy, but they have voice.
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Old 05-19-2006, 10:10 AM   #15
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Rogers Wireless in Canada (GSM) has a roaming agreement with C_COM in Cuba. They have a 900MHz network--so a quad-band Blackberry will work for voice only.

There is no data roaming agreement, which leads me to suspect that C_COM does not have the GPRS/EDGE enhancement to their GSM network.

Unless you have a Canadian address, you will not be able to subscribe to Rogers Wireless.
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Old 05-19-2006, 11:18 AM   #16
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I was in cuba last year with my rogers cell phone, I was making SMS msgs to my friends in Canada no problem. I dont recall making any voice conversations though.
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Old 05-19-2006, 11:33 AM   #17
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Default Telus = no go

I was in Cuba last winter with a Telus phone - no service at all.
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Old 05-19-2006, 12:00 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Murr38
I was in Cuba last winter with a Telus phone - no service at all.
Thats because Telus is a CDMA network / phone.. The best bet would be GSM.

My apologies for the earlier post, my intent was not to hijack the thread into a political one.. I just wanted to make sure the original poster, as an United States citizen, is aware of the consequences.

My apologies again.
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Old 05-19-2006, 01:57 PM   #19
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Here's some info I found through Google:

http://www.dtcuba.com/eng/cocoweb/co...&tema=0&page=0
Quote:
Telephone Communications

You can also travel with your own cell phone, which must have the following technical characteristics to operate in Cuba:

GSM Standard (European standard), in the 900 mHz band. For further information (about using your own phone or renting a cell phone), contact the company C_COM at Calle 3ra. A # 9402 e/ 94 y 96, Miramar, Playa, phone number (53 7) 204-1640.


TDMA Standard (American standard), in the 800 mHz band. For further information (about using your own phone or renting a cell phone), contact the company CUBACEL at Calle 28 # 510 e/ 5ta. y 7ma., Miramar, Playa, phone number (53 7) 80-2222.

To place a call to Cuba, you must first dial 53, the city code, and then the number you wish to call.

For further information about area codes for capital cities and tourist destinations, see the CALLING TO CUBA section at www.dtcuba.com/eng/prefijos_telefonos.asp
http://www.cubalinda.com/English/Mor...CellPhones.asp

Quote:
The GSM standard

The GSM standard is already available in Havana, Matanzas and Varadero. More information about the expansion of the use of this standard in Cuba will be available on this website very soon.
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Old 05-19-2006, 10:42 PM   #20
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Dude your going to be in CUBA -- leave the blackberry at home. Enjoy a word that depends far less on technology and relax..

Canadians love to go to Cuba -- but there is likely no GPRS there at the moment..

As for libya -- expect that to change soon. I think you can get data in libya if you have the right plan (from local provider) but i'm not sure if the Blackberry will work..

PM me on libya and i can find out for you.
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