mobile to mobile calls uk to cuba

I don't think you're going to like this

http://www2.orange.co.uk/servlet/Satellite?pagename=PersonalIR&c=OUKPage&cid=1123171273258&mid=1123171272053&extarg4=1123171272053&extarg1=PAYG&extarg2=1126544428724&extarg3=&x=18&y=18

- this shows that the cost of Orange's roaming in Cuba is expensive - £1.75 per minute to call, £1 a minute to receive. Text messages are 50 p each. And in the lower table it looks like data is not available, so Vyke wouldn't be possible.

Other UK networks will be similarly expensive for roaming, or maybe not available on pay as you go, and probably no data either, though I'll come back and edit this if I find data on one tomorrow

Some places a local SIM card might be worth looking at, but hmmm ...... You can find some tariff detail at the PrepaidGSM site, and I found the network's own page as well

http://www.prepaidgsm.net/en/cuba/cubacel.html

http://www.cubacel.com/productos.aspx?Categ=prepagos

To be frank, the international rates on there aren't any good either. It might be possible but rather tricky to find any calling cards to use via a local access number, and probably not much cheaper anyway. Also note the activation rental fee of $3 per day. And maybe an extra fee or some minimum top-up for adding data.

Then, to find out the cost of making a call to a Cuba mobile from here, the MSE Callchecker shows that the going rate is from 35 pence a minute. And those 0911 numbers are only that rate from landlines, and probably either much more expensive or barred by mobile networks.

I did look at something on O2 called Your Country, which gives some free international calls, but Cuba is excepted from the countries available


So overall it really isn't promising, and I'm tempted to suggest they manage without, and so have more to talk about when you get home, or perhaps just stick with an occasional Orange text for 50p each.

Or if you find you can get internet access there, do something with that