Netflix launches in Cuba, but only 27% of country as internet

LOS ANGELES - Viva la (video) revolucion! Netflix has launched its streaming-video subscription service in Cuba.

Starting Monday, Cubans with Internet connections and access to international payment methods will be able to subscribe to Netflix starting at $7.99 (U.S.) per month.

But the Cuban market looks like it will be a very limited opportunity for Netflix to gain subs. As of the end of 2013, Cuba had only 5,360 fixed-line broadband households, according to data from the International Telecommunication Union.

Netflix’s expansion into the Caribbean island republic comes after the U.S. government announced in December 2014 that it was restoring diplomatic relations with Cuba after more than five decades. The company has set an aggressive target of expanding its footprint to 200 countries within the next two years; last week, it said it plans to launch in Japan in the fall of 2015.

Netflix announced the Cuba launch on Twitter:

“We are delighted to finally be able to offer Netflix to the people of Cuba, connecting them with stories they will love from all over the world,” Netflix CEO Reed Hastings said in a statement. “Cuba has great filmmakers and a robust arts culture and one day we hope to be able to bring their work to our global audience of over 57 million members.”

As of the end of 2014, Netflix had 39.11 million U.S. streaming subs and 18.28 million internationally.

In Cuba, users will have access to originals including “House of Cards,” “Orange is the New Black” and epic adventure series “Marco Polo.” In addition, the service includes kids’ shows like DreamWorks Animation’s “All Hail King Julien” and “The Adventures of Puss in Boots,” plus Academy Award-nominated original documentaries including “Virunga” and “The Square.”