Sprint Looks To Connect Americans To Cuba

As President Obama works together with Raul Castro to restore diplomatic relations between the US and Cuba, many are beginning to wonder whether the tiny island nation will offer a new market to US companies. Strict laws governing US trade with Cuba has kept most US firms from serving Cubans, but new regulations have opened the door for American businesses to make a move.

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the relaxed trade rules; the company's Boost Mobile business introduced a new plan on Thursday that allows customers to call and text Cuba. The plan is touted as the lowest cost option for prepaid customers, at $50 per month and $0.30 per minute with unlimited texting.

Because the US is home to a large population of Cuban Americans who still have family and friends living on the Island, Sprint is hoping to gain new subscribers and become a well known provider for that demographic. The company has already been active in the Cuban-American community through its support for Roots of Hope, a group of professionals supporting the advancement of American relations with Cuba.

Cuba's telecom sector is vastly behind that of the US. Only a small sliver of the nation's 11 million people have access to a cell phone, something many attribute to the US trade embargo from the 60's. With the more relaxed trade rules, Cuban officials say they hope to spread mobile connectivity to more than 60 percent of the population by 2020.