- Bitchat ranked first in Jamaica’s App Store social networking category during Hurricane Melissa.
- The app operates without internet by using Bluetooth mesh networking to relay messages between devices.
- Bitchat includes a feature to pin messages to specific locations like shelters or danger zones.
- The surge in downloads shows the app’s role in maintaining communication when infrastructure fails.
- Similar spikes happened in Nepal, Indonesia, Madagascar, and Côte d’Ivoire during outages and unrest.
During Hurricane Melissa this week, downloads of Bitchat, a peer-to-peer messaging app that functions without internet access, increased sharply in Jamaica. The hurricane caused widespread power and telecommunications outages across the island, severely disrupting national connectivity.
Network data tracked by NetBlocks showed that connectivity in Jamaica dropped to about 30% of normal levels due to heavy winds and downed lines. At the time of reporting, Bitchat was ranked first in Jamaica’s Apple App Store social networking category and was the second most downloaded free app across Apple and Android platforms, according to data from AppFigures.
The app’s co-developer, Calle, wrote on X that this was the first time downloads spiked in response to a natural disaster. Speaking on the app’s purpose, Calle explained that Bitchat is designed to maintain communication when traditional networks fail. It uses Bluetooth mesh networking, which allows phones running the app to connect directly to nearby devices and relay messages across multiple devices. This system extends communication beyond the range of any single phone.
The app also offers a “location notes” feature where messages can be pinned to specific geographic spots like danger zones or shelters. Calle said this helps communities share vital information instantly, such as warnings or locations offering aid.
Similar download increases were seen last month in Nepal and Indonesia due to internet restrictions and protests. In September, Madagascar experienced a surge during protests after blackouts and water shortages, while Côte d’Ivoire saw a rise during civil unrest earlier this month.
“Bitchat was designed to restore one of the most essential human freedoms: the ability to communicate without permission, infrastructure, or surveillance. Even when everything else goes offline,” Calle stated.
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