As telephone companies tout the switch to 5G, these San Diego residents still lack reliable cell service

San Ysidro is a neighborhood in San Diego that is adjacent to one of the world’s busiest border crossings and nestled within one of North America’s largest metropolitan regions. And yet, wireless networks, which are responsible for cellular signals and data, are spotty here. For the residents who live in the manufactured home park behind the Motel 6, that poor cell service has become a daily reminder of the digital divide, i.e., the disparities in access to technology both in San Diego and throughout much of the US. As wireless communication becomes increasingly essential, poor cell signals can have dire consequences. But as the technology becomes more complex, like with the transition to 5G, solving the problem is increasingly difficult.

[Benton Fellow Adam Echelman is a writer and long-time practitioner on digital equity. He is the former Executive Director of Libraries Without Borders US and the founder of Baltimore's Digital Equity Coalition.]