Telecoms Services Restored for Majority of Customers

Telecommunications companies Digicel and Flow are reporting that significant coverage has been restored for customers, following the passage of Hurricane Beryl.

Addressing the House of Representatives on July 16, Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, said Flow reported that as of July 15, out of a total of 782 sites, 588 are online and population coverage is 88 per cent for its mobile network.

“For its fixed network, approximately 193,000 customers were impacted and, as of July 15, a total of 156,000 or 81 per cent have been restored,” he informed.

Turning to Digicel, the Prime Minister said 664 sites out of a total of 884 are now online and population coverage is 95 per cent. He noted that 140 of the sites are operating on backup generator and need constant refueling.

The Prime Minister said both service providers have indicated that vandalism and theft continue to plague recovery efforts.

“No doubt, it is just a small number of individuals whose behaviour is impacting thousands of Jamaica. Again, I am issuing a call for these unscrupulous persons to cease and desist from destroying this critical infrastructure that supports our telecommunications utility,” the Prime Minister appealed.