How AeroNet Rebuilt After Hurricane Maria: A Story of Resilience and Connectivity
By Gino Villarini, Founder & CEO | September 20, 2018
On September 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria tore through Puerto Rico. The destruction was historic. Power lines were down, roads were blocked, and thousands of homes and businesses, including ours, were left in the dark. For many, that day brings back pain and loss. For us at AeroNet, it marked the beginning of a fight to get our company—and our island—back online.
Seventeen years before Maria hit, AeroNet started as a personal challenge. Back then, I couldn’t get broadband internet at home, so I built my own wireless system, beaming internet from my retail shop in San Juan to a nearby hill and repeating the signal into my neighborhood.
What began as a DIY fix turned into a whole business. Over the years, AeroNet grew into a 50+ employee company, serving over 5,000 customers across Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and South Florida with business-class internet and telecom services. But none of that mattered the morning after Maria.
As soon as I could, I drove to AeroNet headquarters (about a 15-minute drive). It took me about an hour and a half to maneuver over all the debris and downed poles made roads almost impassable. When I arrived, as mall team was already there. Their faces told me everything. Our entire operation was offline.
No power. No fiber backbone. No signal.
In that moment, AeroNet—the company I built from scratch—was out of business. But giving up wasn’t an option.
I had a massive responsibility towards our employees and customers. I never considered quitting or balking at the task. Just two days later, on September 22, we started rebuilding.
The first goal: reconnect with our customers and our team. That required long hours, day after day. We worked seven days a week, 12 to 16 hours a day. We repaired broken towers. We restored power. We reestablished signal, site by site.
At the same time, we cared for our team. Some employees and their families stayed at our offices. We gave them food, water, gas, and a place to feel safe.
By late November, our network was back up 80%. By January, we had recovered 98% of our infrastructure.
We didn’t do it with a substantial national budget. We did it with grit, teamwork, and love for what we built. Our recovery was a team effort; every engineer, support representative, and family member played a role. All our company members contributed to this expedited recovery, making us a stronger and more cohesive organization.
Hurricane Maria taught us what genuine commitment means. Not just to a company, but to AeroNet, it has never been about the internet; it has always been about connection. People. Trust.
Today, we’re stronger. We’re faster. And we’re ready.
Natural disasters may come again. But we’ve reinforced our systems, expanded our network, and improved our emergency protocols.
If you’re a business or resident in Puerto Rico, we want you to know we’re here for you. And we’re ready, no matter what comes next.
Want to partner with a provider who’s been tested and proven? Explore our business internet solutions or contact our team to learn more.
Q: How did AeroNet recover its network after Hurricane Maria?
A: We rebuilt our telecom infrastructure site by site, working 7 days a week. By January 2018, we had restored 98% of our network.
Q: What makes AeroNet more resilient today?
A: We’ve upgraded our systems, strengthened our fiber routes, and developed stronger backup solutions to respond faster to future storms.
