Puerto Rico is no stranger to hurricanes. Hurricane season is no laughing matter, and history has repeatedly shown how devastating it can be for everyone, businesses included. In the face of catastrophic storms like Maria, Irma, Fiona, and more recent ones like Ernesto, many Puerto Rican companies are caught unprepared for the deep, cascading disruptions that follow.

What does it take to build resiliency against the storms? Here at AeroNet, we’ve learned much about what durability needs are. Here’s how we’ve stepped up to the challenge.

The Hurricane Impact: Inside the Disruption

• Infrastructure Collapse and Widespread Outages: Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico’s critical infrastructure, destroying nearly 80% of utility poles and all major transmission lines. The disaster left 3.4 million residents and thousands of businesses without electricity, water, or reliable communications for months, according to Mercy Corps.
• Communications Breakdown: The loss of above-ground lines and damaged cellular towers massively disrupted phone, internet, and mobile networks, with municipalities losing all cellular coverage.
• Revenue Loss and Increased Costs: A Federal Reserve Bank of New York survey after Irma and Maria showed that 77% of small businesses in Puerto Rico reported losses. Impacts included decreased revenues (71%), increased expenses (66%), damage to assets (53%), and increased debt (48%).
• Slow Recovery: Months after Maria, nearly half the island was still powerless. Hospitals, communications, and logistics were compromised long after the storm.
• Recurring Storms: Even smaller storms, like 2024’s Ernesto, knock out large portions of the energy grid and disrupt supply chains. The issue isn’t only the big hurricanes but also the systemic fragility in infrastructure.

What Businesses Need: Resilience in Practice

To survive hurricane season, businesses must plan for more than immediate disaster response:

• Redundant Connections: Don’t rely on just one internet connection. Alternate connectivity methods like microwave or fixed wireless complement fiber and vice versa; this approach reduce vulnerabilities.
• Backup Power: Generators, solar, UPS, or alternate power sources for routers, servers, and communication hardware.
• Action Plans: Clear protocols for operating when power or internet is out, including remote work or alternate sites.
• Data Protection: Frequent backups, off-site or cloud, protect valuable business data from outages.

AeroNet: Built for Puerto Rico’s Hurricane Reality

Implementing these changes can be daunting. That’s why AeroNet designed its network and services with Puerto Rico’s unique challenges in mind.

DNA Guarantees Redundancy

AeroNet’s Dual Network Access (DNA) is the first in Puerto Rico. DNA provides two separate internet paths: fiber and microwave (fixed wireless). If one fails, like fiber lines cut by fallen trees, the other activates automatically. This ensures business continuity for sales, healthcare systems, logistics, etc.

“During Hurricane Fiona, AeroNet’s DNA kept our hospital online when the fiber went down. Our telemedicine services never missed a beat, and our patient data systems remained live.” – IT Director, Healthcare Provider.

Future-Ready Speeds

AeroNet recently launched 10 Gbps internet service in select markets using a hybrid infrastructure. This commitment to redundancy and high performance means businesses with heavy data needs stay protected without compromising speed.

"Over 20 years with AeroNet Wireless Broadband. Our first connection was 1Mbps… we truly have grown together!" – Javier Gomez, Vice-President at Fuerza Industrial Group (2025)

Business-Grade Quality

AeroNet emphasizes dedicated bandwidth, resilient infrastructure, and services built for continuity. From hospitals to retailers, we’re built to keep businesses connected.

Not Our First Rodeo

Puerto Rico has endured devastating storms, and AeroNet has consistently stepped up to meet its challenges. 2017’s Hurricane Maria devastated most of our network, but we worked nonstop. By November, just two months later, 80% of our network was restored. By January, 98% was back online. Since then, we’ve prioritized preparedness. Each hurricane season, our resilience strategies deliver results.

"We were extremely pleased with the exceptional customer service we received during the installation process, especially given the internet outage that affected our business. The level of service provided, even days after a category five hurricane, demonstrates an unparalleled commitment to their customers. The prompt and attentive response to our urgent business needs was essential for our office to resume operations and meet our clients’ requirements."  – Diego J. Loinaz-Martin, Esq. LL. M (2017)

Closing Thoughts

Puerto Rican businesses face a storm reality where the question isn’t if, but when. The disruptions: lost revenue, damaged infrastructure, broken supply chains, can be enormous. What matters is not just recovery, but continuity. The next storm is always coming. AeroNet helps businesses, from healthcare to retailers, stay connected when it matters most. Talk to our team today to secure your operations before the next emergency. The time to prepare is now!

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‍Sources:

• Federal Reserve Bank of New York – “Banks versus Hurricanes: A Case Study of Puerto Rico after Hurricanes Irma and Maria" (2023).
• Mercy Corps - "The facts: Hurricane Maria's effect on Puerto Rico" (2020).
• Fed Small Business - "Puerto Rico Small Businesses and the 2017 Hurricanes" (2018).

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How can Puerto Rican businesses stay connected during hurricanes?

A: Combining redundant internet, backup power, action plans, and secure data storage.

Q: How does the DNA redundancy service work?

A: DNA gives your business two dedicated internet paths, fiber and microwave, working together to keep you connected. If the main connection fails, the backup takes over automatically, so your operations never skip a beat. This dual-path setup increases uptime, adds resilience, and minimizes service interruptions, even during unexpected events.

Q: Why is redundant internet essential for essential services and first response entities?

A: Hospitals and clinics depend on uninterrupted connectivity for patient records, telemedicine, and life-saving equipment. DNA ensures they stay online.

Q: What makes AeroNet different?

A: We’re built in Puerto Rico, for Puerto Rico, with infrastructure tailored for hurricane reality.