Cubacel: Next Phone Recharge to Cuba (November 2023)
For those eagerly anticipating the newest recharge options for Cuba, you’ve hit the mark. Immerse yourself in the latest offers and promotions from the island’s sole telephone operator.
Etecsa, the Cuban telecommunications giant, has announced its forthcoming international recharge promotion running from November 6 to November 12, 2023. Let’s delve into what’s in store for prepaid customers.
The Promotion Details
In this upcoming window, an international recharge sent from abroad or acquired through the USD account of the MiTransfer wallet, ranging from 500 CUP to 1250 CUP, will QUINTUPLE the recharged amount in the recipient’s principal balance.
Highlights of the Promotion
- Balance Boost: Receive FIVE TIMES the recharge value in your principal balance.
- Validity: Enjoy the amplified balance which remains valid for 330 days from the recharge date.
This promotion kicks off at 00:01 hours on November 6, 2023 (Cuba time) and wraps up at 23:59 hours on November 12, 2023.
When you secure your recharge, the quintupled balance will automatically be credited to your account.
A few key notes
- This International Recharge promotion does NOT apply to recharges made at MLC Stores.
- International Recharge can be purchased using the USD account of the MiTransfer Exchange.
To be informed about this promotion, the user in Cuba should receive an SMS updating them about their main balance and activated bonuses. Remember, these notification SMS have a certain validity. To receive them, ensure your mobile is active and within good network coverage.
Customers can ascertain the status of their account by texting 222266#. Also, you can make multiple recharges during the promotional period, as long as the maximum principal balance isn’t surpassed.
What are your thoughts on this revamped Cubacel recharge offer?
Best Site to Send Top-ups to Cuba
There are several options to send mobile top-ups to Cuba. Here are some of the sites that offer this service:
Cuballama
One of the most affordable and fastest options to send top-ups to Cuba is Cuballama.
Fonmoney
Fonmoney provides a reliable and efficient service to keep your loved ones in Cuba connected.
Fonoma
Fonoma is known for its speed and efficiency in the mobile top-up service to Cuba.
DimeCuba
We present another option, DimeCuba, to consider when you need to send a top-up to Cuba.
Islacel
Islacel offers an easy and safe option to send top-ups to Cuba.
In addition to these options, there are other platforms to consider:
Ding
Ding offers the ability to send top-ups to all operators in Cuba and has promotions for Cubacel top-ups, Nauta top-ups, and packages.
Boss Revolution
Boss Revolution offers a free app to send mobile top-ups to Cuba, providing a secure, fast, and easy way to top-up at any time and place.
Rebtel
Rebtel offers a commission-free option to send top-ups to Cuba, with the credit being sent in USD via Cubacel and received in CUP.
Cubatel
According to its website, Cubatel has over three hundred thousand users who top up through its platform. This company offers top-up services for mobile phones and Nauta accounts in Cuba.
In summary, there are many options available to send mobile top-ups to Cuba, each with its own advantages and prices. It is recommended to compare the options and choose the one that best suits your needs.
Etecsa’s Services That Can Be Paid from Abroad
Etecsa offers the option to buy, pay for, and recharge several of its products and services from abroad, such as:
- Purchase of a mobile line
- Purchase of cell phones
- Purchase of combined plans (data, SMS, minutes)
- Recharges (Cubacel and Nauta)
- Payment of the telephone bill
- CubacelTur: a service for tourists visiting Cuba, which includes the purchase of a temporary telephone line with a 30-day lifespan from activation and a basic package of 6 GB + 100 MIN + 100 SMS.
More Information about CubacelTur
You can request your CubacelTur line at any Etecsa commercial unit.
If you arrive at José Martí International Airport Terminal 3, you can receive the line at the Cubatur point of sale, which is open 24 hours a day.
- To check the service, dial *222#.
- To check the offer, dial *222*887# (*222*TUR#).
Keep in mind that purchasing additional packages will not extend the validity of the line.
Etecsa and the Recharge Business to Cuba
Phone balance in Cuba functions as a form of currency.
People in Cuba exchange their phone balance for cash, making international top-ups to Cuba a unique form of remittance.
Some individuals use the balance recharged from abroad to convert it into Cuban pesos. For example, the recipient of the recharge keeps the bonus and transfers the main balance to another user in exchange for cash payment.
How Much Does ETECSA Earn from Mobile Recharges?
Mobile top-ups from abroad are an important source of income for ETECSA, the Cuban telecommunications company and monopoly, and for the Cuban government.
The exact amount that ETECSA receives from top-ups is not clear due to the Cuban business system’s lack of transparency in disclosing information about its revenues and expenses.
Some independent estimates put ETECSA’s monthly income from telephone recharges made from abroad at approximately $20 million, though this may not be accurate.
Keep in mind that Cubacel promotions have evolved from monthly to almost bi-weekly and it is common to hear of two ETECSA promotions in the same month.
Additionally, the number of telephone lines in Cuba and the number of people accessing the Internet through mobile data have both been growing steadily in the past decade, which could indicate that the business of international recharges is not yet at its peak.
It’s also worth noting that recharges tend to experience seasonal “peaks” around holidays such as Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve.
According to a senior ETECSA executive in 2017, the money from international top-ups is used to cover investments and modernize the company’s networks, but also contributes to the country and supports other social projects.
All those web sites suggested in articles are almost like a scams. They ask 25 or more USD for so called “PROMOTIONS” to get 500 “PESOS”. That is fake and scam, including Cubacell promotions.
Person in Cuba for 25 USD converted to pesos on street, can buy 9 “extra plans” for 500 pesos from Cubacel and get in total : 63GB of data + 675min + 720 sms.
But there is one web site that offers best Cuba phone topups and transfers to MLC card (now really at 0% fee) that you have not listed on your site and that it bitremesas
I am using that site for almost 2 years. Why have you not listed that site?
Thank you for your comment and for sharing your personal experiences. It seems like you’ve found a website – Bitremesas, which effectively meets your requirements for recharges and money transfers to Cuba. We apologize for not having mentioned this site earlier, and we appreciate you bringing it to our attention. We will include Bitremesas in our list of recommended resources. It’s crucial to remember, however, that experiences can vary among users. Therefore, it’s always advisable to conduct your own research before using any service. Your contribution will undoubtedly be beneficial for other readers in search of reliable methods to recharge or transfer money to Cuba.