
Light Reading Podcasts The Divide: How Digicel is recovering from Hurricane Melissa
Nov 18, 2025
Liam Donnelly, Chief Business Officer at Digicel, dives into the company's recovery strategies following Hurricane Melissa's devastation. He discusses the immediate impacts on network services and innovative short-term connectivity solutions like bus-based cell sites. Liam highlights the challenges of rural digital divides and the need for government initiatives to bridge these gaps. With insights on the evolving customer demands and plans for fiber expansion, he paints a picture of a resilient path forward for Caribbean connectivity.
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Storm Devastation And Field Response
- Liam described Hurricane Melissa as a Cat 5 that hovered and battered Jamaica's west coast, causing widespread destruction.
- He said Digicel's teams worked 24/7 and even deployed buses with cell sites to restore basic connectivity.
Get Power And Sites Back First
- Prioritize restoring mobile sites and power over relying solely on satellite links for post-disaster connectivity.
- Coordinate with utilities to restore power since satellite can only partially meet voice and data needs.
Prep Core Infrastructure Before Storms
- Prepare core infrastructure before a storm by fueling generators and stockpiling equipment.
- Run disciplined business continuity planning and pre-stage crews and resources for rapid post-storm operations.
