7,000 Starlink Devices Pile Up at DHL as Jamaicans Rush to Switch Providers After Hurricane Melissa

A surge in demand for Starlink internet devices has created a massive backlog at DHL warehouses in Jamaica, where approximately 7,000 units are reportedly sitting cleared but undelivered as thousands of residents scramble for more reliable connectivity in the wake of Hurricane Melissa.

The rush comes after the Category Five storm — packing winds of up to 180 miles per hour — battered the island on October 28, destroying key telecommunications infrastructure and knocking more than 40 per cent of the nation’s internet service offline. Traditional providers struggled to recover, leaving rescue missions and frustrated customers searching for alternatives, with many turning to Starlink’s satellite-based system for stability in the aftermath of the disaster.

According to journalist Andre Lowe, the backlog of Starlink shipments has already been cleared by customs but remains stuck in DHL’s system. “There are apparently approximately 7000 Starlink packages at DHL in Jamaica already cleared and waiting to be shipped to customers. Most won’t reach their final destination until a week or more after arriving in the island,” he tweeted.

Some customers were told to expect additional delays of a week or more before their devices reach their homes. Social media users have voiced growing frustration, with some noting they have been waiting since early in the week without updates.

“Mine been processed for clearance from Monday and can’t get any update,” one customer complained. Another pointed out that the rush for satellite service marks “serious competition” for existing telecom companies Digicel and Flow.

Digicel Admits Repairs Are Only a ‘Fragile Fix’

Facing mounting pressure, Digicel told Parliament on Wednesday that it has restored services to most of its users — 75 per cent of business customers and 89 per cent of home internet customers. However, Chief Executive Officer Stephen Murad warned that the company’s current recovery efforts are temporary and vulnerable.

“What we are doing today is interim,” Murad told the Infrastructure and Physical Development Committee. “This is not a rebuild, this is a fragile fix… until we have commercial power, until we have the pole infrastructure back, this is fragile.”

Murad cautioned that customers should expect daily service interruptions as Digicel continues to patch its storm-damaged network.

“Customers are gonna see breaks every single day,” he admitted. “I know that’s not a great story for me to tell, but I prefer to tell you the truth.”

Hurricane Melissa caused widespread destruction across southern Jamaica, particularly in St. Elizabeth, Manchester and Westmoreland where it made landfall. Many areas remain without stable power or communications, driving residents to seek independent connectivity solutions — with Starlink emerging as the fastest alternative.

“Over 200+ Starlink units deployed to critical agencies & emergency response teams in Jamaica. We will also be equipping Cabinet Members & MPs in affected areas,” tweeted Minister of Science, Energy and Technology Daryl Vaz.

He also thanked Elon Musk for the donation of more than 600 devices and added: “an invitation to visit Jamaica as we recover together.”