November 6, 2025
It will provide free broadband for six months through these fixed and portable terminals and
will supply the necessary personnel to begin installation and train local installers.
Hispasat, the Spanish satellite communications operator, has donated 55 satellite access sites to Jamaica as part of the humanitarian aid that the European Union and UNICEF have allocated to the Caribbean country to alleviate the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa. Specifically, Hispasat will provide free connectivity for six months through 40 fixed sites and 15 portable sites. In collaboration with the Caribbean Telecommunications Union, it will also send a team of professionals to Jamaica to carry out the initial installations and train local installers to complete these tasks.
Following the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa, Jamaica is suffering a serious disruption to its communications infrastructure. The Category 5 storm, with winds reaching 298 km/h, caused widespread destruction across the island, especially in the southwest. According to data from the Pan American Health Organization's Situation Report, at the end of October, more than 530,000 Jamaicans were without electricity, and mobile phone and Internet services were severely disrupted, with more than 500 mobile phone sites out of service and seven critical sites completely destroyed. Only between 15 and 22 percent of home Internet customers have access to the service.
Hundreds of thousands of people still do not have reliable access to telephone or Internet services, complicating rescue operations and the coordination of humanitarian aid. The Jamaican government estimates that around 400,000 people have been directly affected by the storm, many of whom remain isolated due to damage to roads and infrastructure.
In disaster scenarios such as this, satellite technology is a key tool for accelerating the restoration of communications. "Our presence in the region and the capacity of our satellites are a valuable aid in improving the restoration of communications in the event of disasters of this type. We are proud to announce that Hispasat will be collaborating with the Jamaican government to mitigate the effects of Hurricane Melissa," explained the company's CEO, Miguel Ángel Panduro.
Hispasat is the main driver of the Spanish aerospace sector. It is committed to helping citizens bridge the digital divide and promoting sustainable development in society. It is the main communications bridge between Europe and America as a provider of broadband and connectivity services through its companies in Spain and Latin America. In addition, it leads the dissemination and distribution of audiovisual content in Spanish and Portuguese, including the transmission of digital platforms for Direct-to-Home Television (DTH) and High-Definition Television (HDTV). These activities make it one of the world's leading companies in terms of revenue in its sector.
Press contact:
Mar Díaz-Varela: +34 629 90 01 19 / mdiazvarela@hispasat.com
Víctor Inchausti +34 667 31 29 48 / vinchausti@hispasat.com
