PORT-AU-PRINCE —Millions of Haitians have been left without internet access as a massive outage disrupts the country’s primary telecommunications provider, Digicel, at a time when reliable communication is critical for survival. As gang violence escalates across Haiti, cutting off internet access has left residents unable to send urgent SOS messages for police intervention or updates to loved ones, worsening an already dire security situation.
According to Digicel, an alternative fiber optic route along National Road Number 3 in the Tabarre area has been down for several days due to clashes between gangs in the area and the Haitian National Police, PNH. This adds another layer of complexity for Digicel’s technicians trying to restore connectivity.
“We have identified two breaks in our aerial and underground fiber optic infrastructure in the Arcahaie area,” says Digicel’s General Director, Jean Philippe Brun. “We are working as quickly as possible to determine how we can access the area, especially given the prevailing insecurity in the city in recent days.”
The major disruption started on the night of Oct. 22, when customers complained about being unable to talk to each other. While local calls remain unaffected, the outage has halted key services such as international calls, mobile money transfers via Moncash, SMS messaging, and internet services.
This disruption hits hardest in communities under attack, where the internet is the primary tool for coordinating emergency responses and sending pleas for help. It occurs at a time when the population is using the Internet to send SOS messages in response to gang attacks this week, particularly in the Arcahaie commune.
“International services, including mobile payments, are all affected,” Brun said. “We are doing everything we can to restore connectivity, but the insecurity hinders our access to the area.”
Digicel has deployed technicians from the commune of Cabaret, the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, and the city of Gonaives in the Artibonite of Gonaives to repair the fiber optic breaks. Brun highlighted that the fiber optic infrastructure in Arcahaie is crucial for connecting the international cable at Kaliko Beach Club with the data center in Port-au-Prince.
“The fiber cuts are in areas controlled by armed groups, making it difficult to conduct repairs,” Brun said. He added that customers in the north of the country, relying on other internet providers, are also experiencing similar outages, compounding the national communication crisis.
“We need this fiber infrastructure to restore connectivity in Port-au-Prince and provide access to all our international services,” says Brun. “The fact that these fibers are cut affects the entire country,” he added.
Repeated disruptions undermine stability
This is not the first time Digicel has experienced significant outages amid growing insecurity in Haiti. Earlier this year, millions of Digicel users were left without access in April due to a fiber optic break in the Drouillard area, north of the capital.
Criminal gangs, including the Taliban and Chyen Mechan, control this route.
A similar disruption occurred in September when another fiber optic line near Kaliko Beach Club in Arcahaie was severed, leaving users without internet for days. During that time, gang assaults paralyzed tourism in the area.
Gang attacks and displacement complicate the crisis
The internet blackout coincides with a surge in gang violence in Arcahaie, located north of Port-au-Prince where armed groups have carried out brutal assaults since mid October. The Canaan and 5 Segond gangs have overrun several neighborhoods, pushing thousands of residents to flee. With local calls available, many still rely on the internet for critical communication with authorities.
Numerous messages from residents in attacked areas, especially Solino and Tabarre 27, highlight the threat from armed gangs. Recent attacks have resulted in multiple fatalities including a pregnant woman, injuries, and numerous homes set ablaze. Since Oct. 17, over 4,200 residents have fled their homes in Port-au-Prince, Delmas, and Tabarre, according to an IOM report from Oct. 20.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that since Oct. 17, more than 4,200 people have fled their homes in Port-au-Prince, Delmas, and Tabarre due to gang violence. This includes over 700 residents escaping attacks in Tabarre. Victims have taken refuge in six existing displacement sites, with three more established to accommodate the ongoing exodus.
One police officer described the dire situation caused by the outage.
“We are in a difficult moment, with numerous SOS messages urging vigilance. Now, the internet problem adds another layer of difficulty,” said Mathieuny Sidel, spokesperson for the National Union of Haitian Police (SYNAPOHA).
Impact on communication amid national crisis
The recurring disruptions raise concerns about the reliability of communication services during a national emergency. As residents flee violence, the loss of internet service makes it nearly impossible to reach authorities or loved ones. Sidel emphasized the importance of swift action.
“Facing the attacks that have intensified in recent days, this internet issue is a significant obstacle for the majority of the population,” says Sidel. According to him, families cannot get updates about their loved ones in the attacked areas.
The continued violence and instability, combined with repeated internet outages, have left the population increasingly isolated and vulnerable. Communication, one of the few lifelines for people trapped in violent neighborhoods, is now under threat, just as Haiti faces one of its most turbulent periods.
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