Community-Level Access Divides

Abstract

Despite the appearance of uniform availability of mobile services, in many locales granular network analyses reveal the persistence of physical access divides. It stands to reason these divides, similar to those at larger scales, are also reflections of community-level social and economic divides. In this research, we examine community-level physical access divides in the context of a Syrian refugee camp. The investigation combines detailed network and organizational analyses to characterize the divides and identify factors influencing their creation and potential solutions. Our findings show that even in the limited confines of a refugee camp, coverage patterns and bandwidth availability differ significantly both within and between the networks of three mobile cellular carriers. These patterns, together with the overall configuration of network infrastructure, demonstrate three community level divides: an inter-carrier congestion divide, a spatial distribution divide, and an inter-network divide. We identify a number of linkages between these divides and the social, organizational and humanitarian context of the camp. Building on these analyses, we provide recommendations to ameliorate these divides for both residents and camp management. CCS Concepts •Networks → Wireless access points, base stations and infrastructure; Network measurement; •Social and professional topics → Geographic characteristics;

Food Aid Technology

“…Duarte et al [19] highlight that while geo-spatial services provide information to refugees in Germany, refugees' lack of experience in using such digital services may make them ineffective. Research within refugee camps and settlements has also shown how limited internet connectivity [55] and access to technologies [24,51] within these spaces pose a significant challenge for the use of technologies to support refugees. Such technological obstacles contribute to access divides within different refugee communities.…”

Unpacking IntermittencyLiving with Infrastructures in Southeast Louisiana

“…In networking, intermittency can be due to several factors, such as a lack of general networking infrastructure [10,28], an overwhelming of infrastructure due to a high level of data traffic [15,29], and failures of dependent infrastructures like electricity [6]. Across these potential causes, intermittency is often seen as a shortcoming of the system, which often entails building or bolstering additional network infrastructures.…”