Over the past year, Digicel has been steadily transforming Barbados’ digital landscape, expanding fibre into St. Philip and surrounding communities to provide them with faster internet service, upgrading mobile sites island-wide and investing heavily in modern, resilient infrastructure. From faster home internet to stronger mobile coverage islandwide, these advancements reflect a clear strategy: build a network that is faster, stronger, smarter and ready for the future.
That commitment reaches a new milestone with the introduction of Digicel’s upgraded network and the rollout of solar powered mobile sites, an industry leading step that brings cleaner energy, greater stability and enhanced resilience to our infrastructure.
This move underscores Digicel’s investment in resilience and environmental responsibility and it’s a win for everyone who counts on staying connected. By reducing reliance on fuel and the national power grid, these solar sites create a more stable, self-sufficient energy supply for the network. This means a more reliable network and fewer interruptions.
Critically, this also means strengthened connectivity during natural disasters. Unlike traditional sites that can be adversely impacted by power outages, these new facilities are engineered to withstand Category 4 hurricanes with fewer equipment failures, ensuring faster recovery and continuous service when customers need it most. It’s another way Digicel is delivering real connections that last through challenges.
Caban, a Miami-based renewable energy company, is working closely with Digicel to install solar-powered battery packs equipped with advanced software at 60% of Digicel’s cell sites throughout Barbados, with a wider roll-out planned across all 25 Digicel markets. Following the successful launch of the project in Digicel Jamaica in October, groundbreaking for the Barbados deployment is scheduled for January 2026. By generating electricity onsite through solar panels and storing excess energy in batteries, these upgraded cell sites will reduce dependency on the national grid during normal operations and maintain service during outages caused by grid failures or fuel shortages significantly lowering reliance on diesel generators and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
For everyday consumers, this means greater reliability and fewer service interruptions. For businesses, it brings confidence that their teams stay connected in the chance there are power disruptions. With 60% of Digicel’s mobile sites ready to transition to solar, the company is delivering greener, stronger and smarter connectivity for Barbados.
Natalie Abrahams, CEO of Digicel Barbados, commented: “This initiative is about more than just going green, it’s about resilience. By harnessing solar energy, we’re not only protecting the environment but also ensuring that our customers, from families staying connected, to businesses powering the economy, can depend on us even when the grid goes down. It’s a forward-looking investment in both sustainability and stability, and one we’re proud to lead the local technology sector here in Barbados.”
She added: “As we get ready to introduce our 5G+ network, this solar transition complements that evolution perfectly. Together, they represent the next era of connectivity for Barbados—one that is faster, stronger, and powered by clean energy. 5G+ will redefine how Barbadians live, work, and connect, and with solar innovation behind it, we’re building a network that’s built better for the future.”
“Much of the world’s infrastructure is proving to be no match for increasingly severe weather,” said Alexandra Rasch Castillo, Founder and CEO of Caban. “In the Caribbean, where communities face frequent storms and grid instability, it is imperative that we rethink how critical systems like telecommunications can be powered sustainably and resiliently. Our partnership with Digicel represents a pioneering effort to blend technological innovation with ecological stewardship, ensuring that connectivity endures even in the harshest conditions.”
Caban and Digicel said the partnership is a step toward a future where telecommunications networks remain operational even during the most difficult moments, enabling families to stay connected, businesses to operate smoothly, and emergency responders to act swiftly.
“Building a resilient, sustainable telecommunications infrastructure is not just a technical challenge, it’s a social imperative,” concluded Rasch Castillo. “By harnessing clean energy and innovative technologies, we can protect what matters most: the connections that bind us all.”
Together, Digicel and Caban are building more than just stronger infrastructure, the partnership is building reassurance for families, stability for businesses and confidence for communities across Barbados. With expanded fibre, improved mobile coverage, solar-powered resilience and 5G+, Digicel is creating a network that stays with you through everyday moments and the toughest challenges. It’s cleaner, stronger and designed to keep every Bajan connected to what matters most.
For more information please contact Campaign Brand Manager Nichola Maynard at nichola.maynard@digicel group.com
Caban uniquely combines service, hardware, software, and finance to deliver reliable, clean power and boosts your bottom line. This turnkey approach allows you to work directly with one trusted ESG partner to achieve decarbonization across your operations.
