From its debut on the airwaves on February 24th, 68 years ago, its signal was eagerly awaited by millions of Cubans who listened while wary of Fulgencio Batista's police repression. "This is Radio Rebelde!"It became a symbol of hope, resistance, and victory, and that tradition continues.
Founded on February 24, 1958, amidst the heat of battle in the Sierra Maestra mountains for the definitive liberation of Cuba, by Commander Ernesto "Che" Guevara and a determined group of courageous communicators, it has maintained its influence and prestige among the Cuban people ever since.
Just a few months after the start of the armed struggle, in 1957, Che Guevara requested that the 26th of July Movement in the plains send the necessary equipment to set up a radio station in the Sierra Maestra. Movement member Ciro del Río coordinated a meeting in early January 1958 between Che and Eduardo Fernández, a radio technician and member of the movement in Bayamo.
After hearing his idea to build a radio station, Che put him in touch with the movement so they could help him obtain the parts to carry out the project. Due to time constraints, it was decided to acquire new equipment in Havana through the Movement.
On February 16, 1958, the transmitter arrived at Che's command post in La Mesa, brought by several comrades, led by the man who would later become the heart and soul of the station, the technical director of Radio Rebelde and later commander, Eduardo Fernández.
A Collins brand transmitter, model 32-V-2, of medium power, about 120-130 watts, a one-kilowatt generator to power the transmitter, a record player, and a light bulb were the seeds of Radio Rebelde.
On February 24, 1958, the first official 20-minute broadcast originated from the home of Conrado, a peasant member of the Popular Socialist Party and collaborator with the Rebel Army. His house was located just below the hill that juts out along the Maestra mountain range and bears his name: Alto de Conrado.
Captain Luis Orlando Rodríguez of the Rebel Army was appointed director of Radio Rebelde, the official organ of the 26th of July Movement, and Orestes Valera and Ricardo Martínez were named its announcers. The first broadcast lasted approximately 20 minutes. It opened with the invading forces' anthem, followed by station identification. A tribute was paid to the comrades who died in the Battle of Pino del Agua, and an editorial commemorating February 24, 1895, was read. The program aired at 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., broadcasting on the 20-meter band, typically used for long-distance communications, so the transmission could not be heard in nearby areas. Work continues to improve its efficiency; another antenna is being built, and transmission begins on the 40 and 20-meter bands.
On April 15, Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro delivers his first address on Radio Rebelde, bringing encouragement and support to the combatants not only in the mountains, who already know the news of the failed April strike, but also in the plains, who have directly suffered this setback. Fidel states that efforts against the tyranny must be redoubled, and that now is the time to be stronger and more resolute. He warns of a major offensive by the tyranny against the Sierra Maestra and directs the adoption of measures to repel it.
The historical significance of Radio Rebelde's launch on February 24, 1958, lies in its ability to transmit the Cuban Revolution's message daily to the masses, revealing the truth about the Rebel Army's presence in the Sierra Maestra mountains. Simultaneously, it served as a communication link between the various guerrilla fronts.
On April 16 and 17, following Fidel Castro's instructions, Radio Rebelde relocated to La Plata. This move was part of a strategy to repel the offensive and maintain a direct line of communication with the Cuban people. This strategic location made it a target that the enemy attempted to disrupt and destroy with intense bombing raids, though the station's exact location was never reached.
The reach of this station expanded enormously with the launch of its central station, Station 8, Second Eastern Front “Frank País” (8SF), operated by Celestino Pérez. Subsequently, several columns of the Second Front organized their own radio stations, eventually reaching a total of 18 stations tuned to Radio Rebelde. At La Lata, where Juan Almeida's command post was located in the Third Front, the station identified as Column 3, Radio 2 (C-3-R-2) was established, and by mid-October 1958, it had already begun broadcasting.
During this period, Radio Rebelde's signal reached the entire continent, and many friendly stations rebroadcast its programs and information to Cuba and abroad. This allowed them to circumvent enemy interference and broadcast on multiple stations simultaneously.By the end of the war, there were 32 stations operating on the various battlefronts, which, together with its main station in the Sierra Maestra mountains, formed the Freedom Network. Some of these stations were built by amateur radio operators. On December 31, 1958, by order of Fidel Castro, the station was moved to Palma Soriano and went on the air on January 1, 1959, with a historic address by the Commander-in-Chief.
The station currently broadcasts 24 hours a day on AM and FM and for four and a half hours on shortwave. It has full coverage throughout the country, Central America, the Caribbean, and parts of South America. Its programming is primarily news-based, with a significant portion dedicated to national and international sporting events and a wide variety of shows that include music and general culture. It remains a faithful continuation of its early days and a staunch supporter of the Revolution.