Flow Jamaica Signals 5G Plans at Liberty Business Launch in Montego Bay

MONTEGO BAY, St James — Flow Jamaica has indicated that a 5G launch may be close, as the company continues a major rebuild and upgrade of its local network following Hurricane Melissa.

The telecoms provider said it has already invested US$85 million in repairing and improving its infrastructure in Jamaica after the storm. On Tuesday, it used the Montego Bay launch of its business-to-business division, Liberty Business Jamaica, to underline what executives described as a deeper commitment to the local market.

Stephen Price, vice-president and general manager of Flow and Liberty Business Jamaica, told business leaders and other stakeholders at the event that the company is also preparing to establish a headquarters in Montego Bay.

“You may have felt some challenges on the mobile network over the past couple of weeks. We are in the middle of not only investing in upgrades, we’re investing in the next generation technology and in a few weeks you may hear me shout ‘five’,” Price announced, drawing loud applause from the audience.

Price did not give further details on the expected 5G move. However, he urged customers who have been asked to replace their SIM cards to complete the switch, saying it would help prepare them for faster service that is expected shortly.

The Jamaica Observer reported in March last year that Flow Jamaica was targeting a full move to a 100 per cent fibre network by December 2025. That transition was described as an important part of readying the company’s infrastructure for newer technologies, including 5G.

Price said Tuesday’s launch of Liberty Business Jamaica, previously known as Flow Business, was about more than a change of name. He linked the new brand to Jamaica’s wider digital development and to the company’s long-standing role in that process.

“Today represents more than the unveiling of a new brand, it marks the continued evolution of a company that has grown alongside Jamaica’s own digital journey for decades. We’re also very deliberate in choosing Montego Bay for this launch, and one of the things I can announce officially, [is] we are doubling down on Montego Bay, and we’re going to launch and open our own Liberty Business headquarters in Montego Bay,” he said.

According to Price, Montego Bay was selected partly because of its importance to tourism and business process outsourcing. Both sectors, he said, suffered major disruption when Hurricane Melissa passed last October.

He said Liberty Business helped companies in western Jamaica stay connected after the Category 5 hurricane by using satellite and mobile options for emergency service. Price also said Flow kept mobile coverage active in parts of Montego Bay during the crisis.

“Some of you had immediate needs that we were able to address right away using satellites and mobile solutions. I’m also proud to say that in the aftermath of the storm we were largely the only mobile network running in Montego Bay,” he said.

Price reported that network traffic has climbed by nearly 40 per cent since Hurricane Melissa, a shift he said shows how quickly Jamaica is moving further into digital services. He added that the US$85-million recovery and upgrade spend followed earlier investment made after Hurricane Beryl in 2024.

“It’s a significant cost to the business, but not a cost when we’re investing in the Jamaican business community and our people,” he noted.

Much of the restoration work in Montego Bay, Price said, has focused on relocating aerial transmission facilities underground and replacing older copper systems with fibre.

“What we’re proud of is that, within two to three months the business community was largely restored and operational again. Still, some pockets remain, but we will not give up until every last one is restored,” he assured.

He added that a number of mobile sites in St James are now equipped with satellite back-up.

Price said Liberty Business is part of one of the Caribbean’s largest digital infrastructure networks. He said the system is supported by about 50,000 kilometres of sub-sea fibre and more than 17,000 kilometres of terrestrial fibre across 30 markets.

“We are a supplier to businesses, we are a supplier to our competitors. We supply our main competitors. We supply Starlink with connectivity,” he declared.

The experience after Hurricane Melissa, Price said, showed how important communications systems are to business continuity and national resilience.

“Technology is not abstract. The solutions we provide have a direct impact on livelihoods and national resilience,” said the Flow Jamaica executive.

Price said 82 per cent of the company’s fixed network customers have been restored. Work is still under way to reconnect the remaining 18 per cent, while mobile service has largely returned to normal.

Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon said the city’s fast urban expansion has increased demand for housing and added pressure on infrastructure. He said much of that growth is being driven by people moving into the area for tourism and BPO work.

Vernon said digital tools, including smart data centres, stronger networks and advisory services, could help with sustainable planning, improve municipal services and strengthen Montego Bay’s position as Jamaica’s top investment destination. He also welcomed a broader partnership with Liberty Business that goes beyond information and communications technology.

“In short, this launch is a story of convergence: a company redefining its identity, a city undertaking modernity, and a nation embracing digital transformation. Together, these threads weave a narrative of resilience, opportunity, and progress. So we are not merely hosting a brand launch; we are embracing a partner in [this] journey to become a safe, vibrant, and digitally empowered city,” Vernon said.