USF to Deliver 90 Connectivity Solutions Over Next Six Weeks

The Universal Service Fund (USF) will deliver at least 90 community connectivity solutions to areas affected by Hurricane Melissa over the next six weeks.

“Starting today, the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) is airlifting Starlink units and generators into isolated communities to establish community Wi- Fi hubs and support humanitarian operations,” said Energy, Transport and Telecommunications Minister, Hon. Daryl Vaz.

He was giving an update at a press briefing on Hurricane Melissa recovery activities on Thursday (November 6) at Jamaica House.

Minister Vaz said that the USF is deploying Starlink satellite solutions to restore connectivity to communities, starting with Bethel Town, Westmoreland, with 15 installations over the next week.

Mobile units are also being deployed to provide Wi-Fi and charging stations in affected areas.

Minister Vaz said that most of Jamaica’s community and public Wi-Fi networks are offline, particularly in western parishes, affecting more than 150 communities.

He noted that Starlink is also being used to establish mobile backhaul for Flow and Digicel towers in the west, helping to connect 250,000 people in affected areas.

Minister Vaz said the 600 Starlink units – 400 fixed and 200 mobile – which were received by the Government last Friday (October 31) have been distributed in priority order to the affected areas.

“Hospitals and emergency agencies are using Starlink to stay connected, request supplies, coordinate relief efforts and more,” he pointed out.

Minister Vaz informed that as of today, Flow has restored 80 per cent of pre-hurricane mobile traffic with priority given to the hardest-hit areas and key towns, including Negril, Savanna-la-Mar, Falmouth and Black River.

“Efforts are now focused on mobile services in other less affected areas,” Minister Vaz noted.
For fixed internet, 42 per cent of Flow customers are now online. Another 23 per cent will be able to connect once power is restored.

In Kingston and St. Andrew, 83 per cent of customers have internet access.