Netflix Now Available in Cuba
Only two months after U.S. President Barack Obama and his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro announced the beginning of a process to normalize relations between Cuba and the United States, Netflix launched its streaming service in Cuba.
Netflix's move can be interpreted as a sign that the relationship between the two states are thawing, especially the economic aspect of it.
Until recently, the United States and the island nation of Cuba have had a troublesome relationship for a very long time. For instance, the United States had been imposing a decades-long economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba, while Cuba would not allow U.S. banks and investment to have access to its local market. Furthermore, neither the United States nor Cuba have had embassies in each other's territory for decades now, a marker that reveals the absence of their diplomatic relationship.
It seems that "The Cuban Thaw", the name given by the media to the normalization of relations between the two nations, gained a new momentum with Netflix's move.
The Washington Post reports that only five percent of the Cuban population has access to fixed broadband, which means Netflix won't be expecting to make much profit with the service it provides on the island. Although, it may not look like the most profitable investment at first glance, symbolically, this bold move by Netflix is a testimony to the company's commitment to expand globally, regardless of infrastructure conditions and other obstacles.
Reed Hastings, Netflix co-founder and CEO, in a statement about the launch said, "We are delighted to finally be able to offer Netflix to the people of Cuba, connecting them with stories they will love from all over the world. Cuba has great filmmakers and a robust arts culture and one day we hope to be able to bring their work to our global audience of over 57 million member."
