Sprint为古巴的外国人提供手机漫游服务

Sprint¹ Signs Major Deal in Cuba Sprint为古巴的外国人提供手机漫游服务

Sprint became the first U.S. telecommunications company to provide direct roaming mobile phone service to foreigners in Cuba, after a striking a deal at the Havana International Fair.  Sprint says it expects the number of visitors in Cuba to reach 5 million a year within the next decade.

The U.S.-based firm Sprint signed a deal with Cuba’s state telecommunications agency Etecsa, with the objective to reach millions of tourists expected to visit the island in coming years. The move comes as Washington and Havana continue to explore business opportunities, since restoring diplomatic relations in July for the first time in more than 54 years.

With the new deal, Sprint’s clients will now be able to generate and receive calls and text messages in Cuba from their personal mobile devices, an achievement that Sprint’s CEO lauded³ as an important step for both countries.

"This is a big deal, because it shows that the U.S. and Cuba working together in an area of progress which is communications, and we expect this to be the beginning of a long-term relationship between Sprint and between Etecsa," said Marcelo Claure, president and CEO of Sprint.

The agreement was announced Monday at the Havana International Fair, which features 900 companies this year, a third of them Cuban.  Roughly 70 countries are represented, including the United States, which continues to focus on relations with the island.

"There are things that could be done in Washington, we're taking a look at it, we're going to be a voice for change, ultimately a voice for the end of the embargo," said Myron Brilliant, executive vice² president of the U.S.-Cuba chamber⁴ of commerce.

One of Sprint’s primary rivals in the United States, Verizon, announced in September that it would offer a roaming service to its clients visiting Cuba, although indirectly⁵, through a third-party contracted by Etecsa.

U.S. firms have fallen behind those of Cuba’s strategic partners, including China, Russia, and Venezuela.  Spain, for its part, also has enjoyed successful commercial relations with Havana, and has the largest presence at this year’s fair, representing 150 of the 600 participating foreign companies.

1 sprint   

n.短距离赛跑；vi. 奋力而跑，冲刺；vt.全速跑过

参考例句：

• He put on a sprint to catch the bus.他全速奔跑以赶上公共汽车。
• The runner seemed to be rallied for a final sprint.这名赛跑者似乎在振作精神作最后的冲刺。

2 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

3 lauded   

v.称赞，赞美( laud的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• They lauded the former president as a hero. 他们颂扬前总统为英雄。 来自辞典例句
• The nervy feats of the mountaineers were lauded. 登山者有勇气的壮举受到赞美。 来自辞典例句

4 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

5 indirectly   

adv.间接地，不直接了当地

参考例句：

• I heard the news indirectly.这消息我是间接听来的。
• They were approached indirectly through an intermediary.通过一位中间人，他们进行了间接接触。