Obama to Announce an Internet Advance for Cuba

By Carol E. Lee

HAVANA--President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raúl Castro are set to meet here Monday at the Palace of the Revolution as the U.S. readies an announcement that Google will begin wiring the island with Internet.

Mr. Obama, in an interview with ABC News that aired after his arrival Sunday in Havana, said that expanding Internet access for Cubans is key to changing the country.

"One of the things that we'll be announcing here is that Google has a deal to start setting up more Wi-Fi access and broadband access on the island," Mr. Obama said. "Change is going to happen here, and I think Raúl Castro understands that."

Separately Monday, Western Union Co. said it would expand in Cuba following the Obama administration's moves to further loosen regulations on financial transactions.

A sliver of Cubans have access to the Internet and service in the country is spotty at best. A deal with Alphabet Inc.'s Google has eluded the company since Mr. Obama announced in December 2014 that the U.S. and Cuba would normalize relations. It is part of a key U.S. objective for Mr. Obama's trip: building economic ties.

The U.S. also wants Cuba to relax policies restricting foreign firms from hiring their own Cuban employees.

Mr. Obama is meeting Mr. Castro Monday morning at the start of a full day of official events marking his historic state visit. The two leaders are scheduled to meet at the Palace of the Revolution, across from Havana's iconic Revolution Square. The White House is seeking a joint news conference for Messrs. Obama and Castro. The Cuban government has yet to decide whether Mr. Castro will take questions.

Mr. Castro will host Mr. Obama for a state dinner Monday night.

Mr. Obama plans to press Mr. Castro on human rights concerns and political freedoms during their meeting, White House officials said. The president also will raise the issues in a speech on U.S.-Cuba relations that is supposed to be broadcast in both countries, officials said.

On Tuesday Mr. Obama is scheduled to meet with political dissidents and attend a baseball game in Havana between the Cuban National Team and the Tampa Bay Rays before flying to Argentina.

Write to Carol E. Lee at carol.lee@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 21, 2016 10:25 ET (14:25 GMT)

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