Telecoms: Italy

Since 1995, Telecom Italia has been Castro’s best friend in the telecom business. Although the fact is probably little know, the Italian incumbent is the only foreign shareholder (30%) of the Cuban monopoly telecom service provider Etecsa.
The strategic rationale of Telecom Italian owning a big stake in the Cuban operator is frankly hard to understand and, apparently, as long as Fidel Castro is alive, no change is expected.

By the way, Italian OLOs accuses Telecom Italia to unfairly exploit its ownership of the Cuban monopolist by milking both Italians and Cubans by outrageous anticompetitive tactics. For instance, outgoing wholesale rate from Italy to Cuba is offered by Telecom Italia at 0,90 € per minute, while wholesale rate to a nearby destination like the Dominican Republic is just 0,20 € per minute.