Liberty Caribbean, the parent company behind the Flow, Liberty Business, and BTC brands, has confirmed its preparedness for the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season, which officially begins on June 1. According to Antigua News Room, the telecommunications provider outlined a range of infrastructure investments and emergency response measures designed to keep customers, governments, and communities connected during periods of crisis.
The announcement comes in the wake of Hurricane Melissa's significant impact on Jamaica last year, an event that underscored the vital role of resilient communications networks across the Caribbean.
"Hurricane Melissa reminded us once again that connectivity is far more than technology. In moments of crisis, it becomes a lifeline for families, businesses, emergency responders, and governments," said Inge Smidts, Chief Executive Officer of Liberty Caribbean.
"The lessons from that experience have further strengthened our resolve and accelerated our investments in network resilience, operational preparedness, and recovery capabilities across the region. We remain committed to ensuring our customers and communities can rely on us when it matters most," Smidts added.
Over the past year, Liberty Caribbean has made strategic investments across multiple markets to bolster disaster resilience. In Jamaica, those investments included an enhanced mobile network, expanded spectrum capabilities, strengthened transport diversity, hardened infrastructure, backup power systems, and additional redundancy measures aimed at improving reliability and accelerating recovery times.
The company has also conducted simulation exercises, emergency response drills, fuel and logistics readiness planning, and cross-functional coordination efforts across all its operating markets to ensure rapid mobilisation when needed.
"Our teams have worked tirelessly to modernize our infrastructure, strengthen operational readiness, and improve how we respond during emergencies. While no network is immune to extreme weather events, our focus remains on building stronger, smarter, and more resilient systems capable of supporting the Caribbean through disruption and recovery alike," Smidts said.
Forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are predicting a below-normal hurricane season for the 2026 Atlantic basin. NOAA's forecast indicates a 55% chance of a below-normal season, a 35% chance of a near-normal season, and a 10% chance of an above-normal season. The agency projects 8 to 14 named storms with winds of 63 km/h or more, of which 3 to 6 are expected to reach hurricane strength, including 1 to 3 major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher. An average season produces 14 named storms, seven hurricanes, and three major hurricanes.
"We understand the responsibility that comes with serving the Caribbean. Our commitment extends beyond connectivity alone. It is also about supporting the resilience of the communities we serve and standing beside them before, during, and after times of crisis," Smidts said.
Liberty Caribbean operates in more than 20 Caribbean markets, providing broadband, mobile, video, and voice services to residential customers, as well as enterprise-grade connectivity, cloud, security, and data centre services to businesses and governments through its Liberty Business division. The company is encouraging customers and businesses throughout the region to review their own hurricane preparedness plans and stay informed throughout the season.
