Telcoms providers Digicel and Flow Jamaica condemned what they said was an act of network vandalism that left thousands of customers without Internet and mobile WiFi services for much of Tuesday.

By mid-afternoon service was back to normal as technical teams from both companies worked to rectify the damage.

“We jointly condemn an act of network vandalism which resulted in our fibre cables being intentionally cut in the early hours of Tuesday, March 4, 2025. The incident impacted both residential and business services for thousands of Digicel and Flow Jamaica customers,” the competing companies said in a joint statement.

“As a nation, we have come to a critical juncture where we must work collaboratively to defend our country and its citizens from senseless acts such as this,” the joint statement quotes Flow Jamaica Vice-President and General Manager Stephen Price who, in the past, labelled as “domestic terrorism” cable theft that affected thousands of residential and business customers.

“As critical stakeholders in Jamaica’s growth, we continue to invest in our network to ensure readiness for the future, and we urge members of the public and other players to join hands with us to address this issue which only proves counterproductive in today’s digital age,” Price said.

Digicel CEO Stephen Murad described the attack on the network as “reckless and harmful to nation-building”.

Murad said he was “deeply disturbed” by acts that “threaten our society and shared future”.

“At Digicel, our principles are rooted in enabling growth and fostering nation-building through innovation and reliable connectivity. We remain steadfast in our commitment to Jamaica’s ongoing development. Every day we work tirelessly to deliver the most advanced communication services that help drive economic progress, improve quality of life, and empower individuals and businesses alike. We stand united in our goal to build a more connected and prosperous future for all Jamaicans,” Murad said.

Both Price and Murad thanked their customers for their loyalty and patience and pledged their continued commitment to providing modern and efficient telecommunication services of the highest standards.

In an earlier statement Price said there are “public safety concerns with this mischief”, and said Flow “condemns in the strongest possible terms any acts that damage, disrupt, or otherwise interfere with the company’s network and its associated infrastructure”.

In 2021, amid a spate of cable theft that inconvenienced thousands of Flow Jamaica customers, Price suggested that deliberate damage to telecommunication apparatus be classified as domestic terrorism.

“Right now, if someone steals copper or vandalises a site, it’s petty larceny. Really and truly, I want this to be treated as domestic terrorism. When you terrorise citizens of a community and they’re not in contact with their people or the police, it is a very serious issue,” Price said during a Jamaica Observer Business Forum that examined the issue of infrastructure damage caused by vandals that leave communities isolated without network service.

“The country has to find a way to protect foreign direct investment as this is so important because it keeps students connected for education [and] it keeps our citizens safe, as they can call emergency services and police to protect them from crime. We have to make sure that we find a balance in terms of how we do it. We need the Government to step in,” Price stated.