Liberty Business Plans Montego Bay Headquarters Amid Major Network Investment

Telecommunications firm Liberty Business says Montego Bay will be central to its Jamaica expansion, with plans to set up its headquarters in the western city.

Stephen Price, vice-president and general manager of FLOW and Liberty Business Jamaica, announced the move during Tuesday’s official Jamaica launch of Liberty Business at the White Witch in Montego Bay.

“We are doubling down on Montego Bay, and we’re going to launch and open our own Liberty Business headquarters in Montego Bay,” Price said.

He said the event was not simply a brand rollout, but another stage in the company’s development as Jamaica’s digital economy continues to grow. Price said the company will put millions of dollars into strengthening the country’s digital infrastructure after the damage left by Hurricane Melissa.

“Today is important for us because it 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,” he said.

Speaking about Hurricane Melissa, which struck Jamaica six months ago, Price described it as “the strongest hurricane to ever make landfall in this hemisphere”. He said FLOW acted quickly to bring back communication services across western Jamaica.

“I remember speaking to many of you over the airways, business owners, partners in the BPO industry and hospitality sectors, and giving you our commitment to have you up and running as quickly as possible,” Price said.

Price said FLOW was “largely the only mobile network running in Montego Bay” immediately after the hurricane. He explained that the company first focused on restoring mobile service before moving to transmission systems and fixed-line repairs.

“Being the largest provider in Jamaica means we carry both a privilege and a responsibility,” he said. “Carrying the economy of Jamaica on our backs is both a privilege and a responsibility.”

He said about US$85 million has already gone into recovery work, while another US$130 million is planned for spectrum acquisition and upgrades to physical infrastructure.

“It is a significant cost to the business but not a cost when we are investing in you, the Jamaican business community, and our people,” Price said.

He said the company is working to make its network more resilient by adding satellite backup systems, including technology supported by Starlink, at several mobile sites in St James.

“We’re also rapidly expanding our satellite capabilities, which are already facilitating greater connectivity in hard-to-reach and underserved areas, extending coverage, improving resilience and ensuring our customers can stay connected even in the most remote environments,” he said.

Price said demand for digital services has climbed sharply since the hurricane, with traffic on the company’s network up by almost 40 per cent.

“The traffic on our network has increased by almost 40 per cent, which shows you that we are making the pivot towards more digital services,” he said.

He added that 82 per cent of FLOW’s fixed-network customers have been reconnected, while teams continue working to restore service for those still offline.

“Some pockets remain, but we will not give up until every last one is restored,” Price said.