BitChat Rises To The Top of Social Apps On iOS In Jamaica After Hurricane Melissa
Hurricane Melissa's devastation in Jamaica revealed an unlikely hero: BitChat, a peer-to-peer messaging app that operates without internet connectivity. As traditional telecom networks collapsed under 295 km/h winds, the app's Bluetooth mesh network enabled critical communication. Phones became nodes, relaying encrypted messages to share alerts, locate shelters, and coordinate rescues.
The app's rapid ascent to the top of Jamaica's App Store social category underscores the growing value of decentralized solutions during crises. BitChat's performance mirrors earlier adoption in Kathmandu, proving resilient infrastructure matters when centralized systems fail. Its ranking just below weather app Zoom Earth highlights how utility trumps entertainment during emergencies.