Jamaica’s second-largest telecom operator, Digicel, has reported major strides in restoring services across the island following the destructive passage of Hurricane Melissa. As recovery enters a critical phase, the company says over half its mobile infrastructure is back online, covering roughly 80% of its active mobile user base.
On the fixed-line side, Digicel confirmed that nearly 90% of residential Fibre-to-the-Home users have been reconnected, while 75% of business-grade access points have also come back online. The company’s teams remain deployed across the country, accelerating repairs in hard-hit communities and coordinating ground-level efforts with relief logistics.
Priority Areas Regain Service
Substantial recovery progress has been made in western and central parishes, including Manchester, St Elizabeth, St Ann, Clarendon, St James, Trelawny, Hanover, and Westmoreland. Notable towns like Christiana, Spur Tree, Santa Cruz, Bull Savannah, Ocho Rios, Negril, and Sandy Bay are now back within coverage. Eastern parishes such as Portland and St Thomas are also regaining connectivity, with key districts like Windsor and Duckenfield back online.
In the corporate zone of Kingston, business nodes like Alorica, Kirkland Heights, and Panton Avenue have also seen restored operations—crucial for resuming commercial activity in the capital.
Recovery Infrastructure Mobilized
To reach remote and energy-deficient zones, Digicel has deployed its mobile “Digi-Bus” command units to provide temporary coverage, satellite support, and community-level technical assistance. The company is actively refueling backup generators, replacing damaged hardware, and rethreading fibre lines across damaged corridors. Aerial drone surveys are also underway to assess inaccessible areas and formulate repair strategies where hurricane debris has blocked conventional routes.
Humanitarian Efforts Expand
Beyond network recovery, Digicel has intensified its on-the-ground relief efforts. Partnering with the Digicel Foundation, the company has delivered over 1,800 emergency care packages and erected charging hubs in multiple towns where residents remain without electricity. In one poignant moment shared by the team, a mother in Falmouth—cut off for days—was able to contact her daughter for the first time post-hurricane via satellite phone, underscoring the human weight behind every reconnection.
Teams stationed in Montego Bay, St Elizabeth, and Trelawny have also supported shelter residents and distributed emergency communications devices, with focus areas shifting daily based on accessibility and need.
Leadership: All Eyes on Restoration
CEO Stephen Murad emphasized that the company’s full attention remains on one goal: national reconnection.
“We are mobilizing everything at our disposal to reconnect every Jamaican household and business. From Negril to Duckenfield, our teams are navigating blocked roads, downed lines, and power outages to bring communities back online,” Murad said.
Recovery efforts continue along key corridors such as the Falmouth–Montego Bay–Negril belt, with Digicel urging customers to monitor its official channels for the latest updates via SMS, radio, and social platforms.
As the country pushes forward with rebuilding, Digicel has made clear its stance—connectivity is not just a utility, but a lifeline. And until that line is restored for every Jamaican, the work won’t stop.
