With the 2025 hurricane season set to begin in June, Digicel Jamaica says it has already started making preparations to protect its mobile and internet services. The company has been running emergency drills and training staff to respond quickly if a storm hits.

Digicel CEO Stephen Murad says they are not waiting for the first storm warning to act. 

“The network is a living, breathing thing,” Murad said. “We have to make sure it runs well every day. We’ve already started drills and are getting ready.”

One key focus is power. Digicel relies on generators and batteries when regular power goes out. After facing challenges during Hurricane Beryl last year, the company is now adding more backup systems. It also began work on a new solar energy project. While only some of the cell sites will have solar power this year, Digicel hopes more than half will be ready by next hurricane season.

Beyond storm readiness, Digicel is also expanding its services. Right now, its fixed fiber network is in areas like Kingston, Portmore, and Spanish Town. But the company plans to grow that network to reach more parts of the island. New expansion plans are expected to be announced soon.

“This is a big investment,” Murad said. “We’ve secured millions of dollars from our parent company to grow our fixed broadband network in Jamaica.”

Murad said building a stronger islandwide fiber network is now one of the company’s top priorities.

On the topic of competition from new companies like Starlink, Murad says Digicel is not focused on blocking rivals. Instead, he sees competition as a reason to improve. “It’s important we keep pushing ourselves to do better,” he said.