Cuba lifts mobile phones ban

Despite the retention of the US trade embargo against Cuba, Americans can now send mobile phones to relatives and friends in the island.



Last month, a restriction was placed on mobile phone ownership in Cuba, allowing only government officials and employees of foreign firms access to mobile phones.



With the ban now lifted, state-owned telecoms company Etecsa expects to sell approximately

1.4 million mobile phone contracts over the next five years.



Economic reforms instituted by Cuba’s President, Raul Castro, have led to the lifting of restrictions on Cubans owning DVD players and computers, staying in tourist hotels and renting vehicles.