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The human infrastructure of Cuba's el paquete, offline internet

Abstract:

In Cuba the Internet is populated and sustained by a human infrastructure instead of relying on technical equipment and algorithms. Millions of Cubans engage with digital content on a regular basis through an informal, pervasive, offline Internet called El Paquete Semanal (EP), or the weekly package. Although access is increasing, slow speeds and high costs persist. Despite such barriers, there is a proliferation of multimedia content across the country. EP is a one-terabyte (TB) collection of digital content compiled by individuals, distributed by hand across Cuba via external hard drives, USBs, and CDs. EP includes local and international TV shows, music, movies, apps, educational programs, YouTube videos, magazines, and news.