In Cuba, the company state socialist Gedeme launched the first “legitimately” Cuban smartphone, but with a Chinese soul. The GDM MB 10 It has features of a basic cell phone, running Android 10, with 3 GB of RAM, 32 GB of internal storage and a MediaTek Helio P22 processor (in other words, this device is definitely not a 100% made in Cuba product).
On its Twitter profile, Gedeme (GDM) recently stated that the smartphone is a development project with a high social impact, materialized with a view to computerizing society and defending technological sovereignty. Cuba's first smartphone was developed according to the architecture and conditions set by the country, with software and systems developed by Cuban institutions, according to the Cuban newspaper Rebel Youth. A pilot test with 6 thousand units is being carried out with destination Copextel and Etecsa, Cuban technology and telecommunications companies.
Six years to take off
The GDM project reportedly began in 2015 and, in theory, would bring a cell phone made in the country capable of providing Internet access to millions of people who cannot afford imported phones. As a result, it took almost six years for Cuba to launch its first smartphone.
According to a recent report According to the Cuban Ministry of Communications, there were 6 million phones online in the country in 2019 for a population of 11 million people. Just over half of the devices had regular access to mobile data. Advances in internet connectivity in Cuba bring a Wi-Fi expensive, costing a dollar an hour and available only in a few public parks. 4G data is equally expensive, and cellular coverage is unpredictable. In this scenario, the Cuban government has announced that it will build 50 new cellular towers to provide more stable coverage across the island.
Cuba received the raw materials for the GDM smartphone prototypes through an ongoing partnership with the Chinese company Huawei, aimed at acquiring high-tech parts. Huawei had previously helped Cuba build its firewall, which turns some foreign websites into blank pages. Among the approximately 50 censored sites is Freedom House, a non-profit organization that promotes Internet freedom.
Until now, the smartphone project has been kept under wraps in Cuba. An expert who is in contact with the developers said that workers from the Technology Ministry have been walking around Havana using the phones for months or even years without any public acknowledgement of the project.
Features of Cuba's first smartphone
Finally, moving on to the main specifications of the GDM MB10, in addition to those mentioned at the beginning of the post, the phone has a 6-inch HD screen with a waterdrop-shaped hole for the 5 MP selfie camera. On the back, there is a module with an 8 MP camera. The smartphone supports a fingerprint reader and facial recognition, in addition to supporting Bluetooth 4.0 and GSM/WCDMA 4G LTE network. It has a 3200 mAh battery, there is a 3,5mm headphone port and Dual SIM.
There are also a number of applications that come pre-installed on the smartphone, which are locally developed tools. Among them, Apklis (Cuban platform for the distribution and updating of mobile applications in the country), toDus (instant messaging platform for users in Cuba) and the Picta (video streaming app). All apps developed on Android.
Model with more RAM and storage (but not much)
Another more robust model of the first smartphone launched by Cuba is the GDM P4R, which has the same processor and runs the same Android 10. However, there are some differences, such as the RAM, where the cell phone offers 4 GB, and the internal storage, with 64 GB. In addition, the HD+ screen is larger, at 6,22 inches, and the battery comes with 3400 mAh. The cameras are also superior, with 8 MP for the one located in the front and 13 MP for the rear camera. Of the two GDM models, it is possible to have information detailed here.
The Cuban government phone is expected to cost less than half the price of Android phones that are illegally appearing in the country, and even cheaper than Samsung models sold by the national telecommunications company Etecsa. Such phones typically cost more than four months of the average Cuban salary.
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