The passage of Hurricane Matthew on Haiti, on 3 and 4 October caused significant losses in the telecommunications sector, particularly in the departments of South, Grande Anse and Nippes. The networks of mobile operators, Internet Service Providers (ISP), as well as facilities of the broadcasting stations have not been spared.

More than 250 BTS of the transmission network of NATCOM (transmission equipment, electrical equipment and houses, for most cases) turning off the radio links and damaging fiber optic cables on several sections: at the National #2 and on the road leading to the Grand'Anse. Antenna towers of over a hundred sites of transmission have collapsed with winds of over 200 Km/h. The fiber network also experienced significant damage. In addition, access roads to transmission sites were cut and equipment storage warehouse was destroyed.

For its part, the Digicel also recorded damage including the collapse of 12 antennas towers, 52 BTS off, 36 microwave transmission equipment in a shutdown state, 76 electric power supply systems defective (generators, solar panels, batteries, accessories). Its fiber network is damaged in several places on the National #2 and on the road leading to Jérémie, fences of transmission sites down and an equipment warehouse was destroyed in the Chardonnières area.

Regarding the company "Access Haiti", 11 transmission sites used for radio links were destroyed. Note also the case of theft and looting of those sites by unidentified individuals, who took away the batteries, inverters and other important equipment.

On the other hand, the majority of antenna towers of broadcasting stations in the affected departments, have fallen. The broadcast equipment were seriously damaged or swept away by wind or destroyed by water. In the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, only two FM radio stations over thirty still emitted in Les Cayes, two in Miragoâne and one in Jérémie.

Download the summary of the damages and costs estimated in the telecom sector (PDF) : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/perte-telecom-matthew.pdf

See also :

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-18998-icihaiti-petit-goave-matthew-6-radio-stations-severely-damaged.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-18989-icihaiti-telecom-the-conatel-sets-up-an-emergency-unit.html

HL/ HaitiLibre