HAVANA — Cuban authorities said Tuesday they have approved a new area of private-sector enterprise under which islanders will be allowed to provide phone services to their neighbors and, in the future, Internet access.

Under a Labor Ministry resolution, Cubans will be allowed to register as newly legalized “telecommunications agents” and essentially turn their homes into phone booths that charge by the minute.

Cuba has some 1.2 million fixed phone lines and 1.8 million mobile phones for a population of around 11 million. Many domestic land lines are not equipped for making long-distance and international calls, though they can receive them.

The “agents” will have to charge the same as what state telecom monopoly Etecsa charges customers, with the company paying them a commission.. The measure also authorizes the contractors to sell prepaid cellphone cards, collect phone bill payments and even offer Internet.