Verizon announced yesterday that rate increases will go into effect on 20 May, as reported in Hoy newspaper. Local calls costing RD$0.72 per minute will rise to RD$0.90 and local long-distance calls will rise from RD$2.95 to RD$3.10. The most significant increase will be the per-minute cost to Cuba, rising from RD$15.95 per minute to RD$44.95. Other rate increases are less than RD$2 per minute. Internet connectivity rates will also rise. Dial-up service will climb from RD$380 to RD$420 and Flash Plan 1 from RD$1,195 to RD$1,495, for instance. These prices do not include taxes.
Benigno Gonzalez, the vice-president of marketing for Verizon, cited the 166% currency devaluation in the past 15 months as the reason for the increases.