Cuba and the United States have agreed to restore a direct postal service, suspended 52 years ago at the height of the Cold War.

A pilot postal service will be launched shortly, but it is not clear when a full service will be implemented.

The move is part of the rapprochement process that was announced by Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro on 17 December last year.

The two countries have since restored diplomatic ties and reopened embassies.

Cuba and the US began re-establishing postal links in 2013, before the change of policy was announced.

In March, direct phone connections with the US were restored after more than 15 years.

Previously, phone calls needed to go through a third country.

Washington hopes that in the long run Cubans will be allowed greater access to the internet, says the BBC's Will Grant in Havana.

only an estimated 5% to 25% of Cubans have any type of internet service.