KINGSTON, Jamaica — Telecommunications firm Flow has ushered in a new era of digital connectivity for Jamaica by officially activating the country’s first commercial 5G mobile network, bringing faster data downloads, more reliable call quality, and enhanced network performance to thousands of local consumers already holding 5G-compatible devices.
In a public announcement made Thursday, the provider confirmed that the 5G infrastructure is already live across five major population centers: Kingston, Portmore, Spanish Town, May Pen, and the country’s popular North Coast. Combined, these initial coverage areas reach approximately 70 percent of Jamaica’s total population, putting next-generation connectivity within reach of a majority of the public right from launch.
The expansion will not stop at the initial rollout, Flow confirmed: six additional communities spanning Mandeville, Santa Cruz, Black River, Savanna-la-Mar, Bull Bay, and Morant Bay are scheduled to connect to the new 5G network before the end of the current calendar month, extending access to even more Jamaican households and businesses.
Thursday’s launch caps off months of intensive network modernization work across the island, backed by a total investment of more than $74 million U.S. dollars. Of that total, more than $50 million has been allocated to core mobile network upgrades, with the remaining $24 million invested in acquiring critical 5G spectrum licenses to support the new service.
Speaking at the official launch ceremony, Stephen Price, Vice President and General Manager of Flow Jamaica, emphasized that the 5G rollout is far more than an incremental upgrade to internet speeds for consumers.
“We have the technology. We have the people. We have the talent. And we are at this intersection of all these three things which will augur well for the future of Jamaica. Flow, Liberty Business will take you there. 5G is a game changer for businesses and ordinary citizens in Jamaica and we are deeply committed to enabling this future,” Price told attendees.
He went on to outline the new network’s enhanced features beyond faster data, including support for Voice over Wi-Fi and Voice over LTE calling, as well as upgraded backup systems at mobile tower sites. These improvements are designed to boost overall network reliability and resilience, especially during public emergencies and unexpected power outages when consistent connectivity is most critical.
Price also tied the 5G launch directly to Jamaica’s long-term national goals to grow its digital economy and integrate emerging technologies across all sectors of society. “We have seen the growing ambition across our government, businesses, entrepreneurs, and young innovators who want to build, create, and compete globally,” he added.
Daryl Vaz, Jamaica’s Minister of Telecommunications, joined in welcoming the milestone, framing the launch as a critical leap forward in strengthening the country’s national technology infrastructure.
“The rollout of 5G marks a pivotal point where that vision takes concrete form. The government has made digital transformation a top priority. We have introduced digital IDs, streamlined government processes, and explored emerging technologies to ensure Jamaica benefits from modern infrastructure,” Vaz said.
Vaz noted that 5G technology is poised to unlock new economic and social opportunities across a wide range of key sectors, from education and healthcare to small business and public administration, while driving widespread innovation and accelerating long-term national economic growth.
With this commercial launch, Flow becomes the first telecommunications provider in Jamaica to offer public 5G services to consumers and businesses. The company projects that the new network will deliver mobile download speeds more than three times faster than the fastest services previously available in Jamaica’s local telecommunications market.