Cuba's national telecom provider announced Wednesday direct telephone communications between the U.S. and Cuba, the first commercial agreement since the the two countries announced they would restore diplomatic relations in December.
U.S.-based IDT Corp reached an agreement with Cuba's Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba S.A. (ETECSA) to provide direct international long distance.
Phone communication between the two countries was possible by passing calls through third countries.
"The re-establishment of direct communications between the United States and Cuba will help offer greater ease and quality of communications between the people of both nations," said Cuba's telephone provider in a statement.
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--Reuters