The number of cell phone subscribers in Cuba willsurpass one million by 2010 end after the administration in the year 2008 permitted cell phone service for ordinary natives, a luxury previously reserved for aliens, companies as well as state agencies.

The vice president of ETECSA's mobile services, Maximo Lafuente said that Cuba has invested around $150 million since 2003 in order to expand the island's cellular phone industry.

He added that the aim for the year 2015 is 2.4 million subscribers.

Cell phone users will enjoy major cost savings on calls starting June 1. Activation cost for mobile phones has decreased from the actual cost of $120 to $43, whereas rates for national and international calls will decline by around 42% and 75% depending on the terminus.

The lifting of the curb was one of the first steps Raul Castro adopted after formally succeeding troubling older brother Fidel in February 2008, together with permitting the unrestricted sale of PCs, DVD players and other consumer goods.

But, 23 out of the island's 169 municipalities are still without cell phone coverage as they are situated in mountainous or muddy regions. (With Inputs from Agencies)