Best option from Cuba to UK - Europe?

[Stu]

What about VOIP?

[ertertert]

I saw that Skype has a mobile client (currently in beta) and Fring works with Skype. If the Cuban GSM telco allows GPRS roaming, that could be a solution. What's the current cost per Mb in Cuba, if they allow GPRS roaming? Anyone used it?

In the worst case scenario, should I go with ICQ SIM (UM) or there is a better alternative? Remember, I'm based in the UK.


Edit: Are foreigners (non-US) allowed to buy prepaid GSM cards there, with a local number?

[PhotoJim]

Originally Posted by Stu

What about VOIP?

VoIP will be annoying. Currently Cuba's Internet backbone is a satellite connection from Montreal. The latency will be obnoxious.

1 devonport.photojim.prv (192.168.222.6) 0.719 ms 0.504 ms 0.507 ms
2 10.42.255.39 (10.42.255.39) 9.701 ms 10.910 ms 9.886 ms
3 * 24.72.99.33 (24.72.99.33) 9.822 ms *
4 h66-38-148-142.gtconnect.net (66.38.148.142) 22.323 ms 21.653 ms 19.187 m
s
5 GE4-1.WANB-CALGAB.IP.GROUPTELECOM.NET (216.18.32.5) 19.740 ms 18.409 ms 2
0.363 ms
6 POS9-0.WANB-VANCBC.IP.GROUPTELECOM.NET (66.59.190.19 33.713 ms 31.712 ms
33.790 ms
7 GE4-0.PEERA-VANCBC.IP.GROUPTELECOM.NET (66.59.190.1 31.852 ms 31.225 ms
31.857 ms
8 if-8-2.core1.VCW-Vancouver.as6453.net (216.6.58.9) 32.012 ms 31.719 ms 31
.702 ms
9 if-10-0.core2.VCW-Vancouver.as6453.net (64.86.115.29) 30.801 ms * 33.174 m
s
10 if-11-0.mcore3.TTT-Scarborough.as6453.net (216.6.98.29) 70.918 ms 79.148 m
s 72.634 ms
11 if-4-0.mcore4.MTT-Montreal.as6453.net (216.6.115.13) 79.168 ms 80.596 ms
81.201 ms
12 if-2-0.core1.LAU-Laurentides.as6453.net (216.6.115.6) 81.424 ms 85.235 ms
83.938 ms
13 if-5-0-0.bb1.LAU-Laurentides.as6453.net (64.86.81.104) 85.608 ms 84.514 ms
84.520 ms
14 ix-4-0-0.bb1.LAU-Laurentides.as6453.net (207.45.217.22) 615.657 ms 617.342
ms 615.305 ms
15 200.0.16.102 (200.0.16.102) 633.097 ms 653.355 ms 630.843 ms
16 200.0.16.113 (200.0.16.113) 635.111 ms 633.696 ms 633.984 ms
17 200.0.16.141 (200.0.16.141) 653.849 ms 634.324 ms 633.551 ms
18 * * *
19 * 3wonline-c21.etecsa.net (200.55.129.3) 639.883 ms 632.398 ms

You can see the jump to the satellite link at #14 above.

So you'll be looking at about 1260 ms latency (2 x 630-ish) on VoIP, when VoIP starts to get annoying at around 200.