San Jose Installs Small Cells on 4,000 Light Poles & Enhances Broadband Network Accessibility

As the largest city in Silicon Valley, San Jose is in close proximity to some of the world’s leading tech companies.

Despite the advantages brought by its location, high levels of income disparity resulted in inconsistent broadband access and 95,000 residents without internet access in their homes. The city's broadband access inequity had to be addressed in order to set up all residents for success in this increasingly digitally-centered world.

San Jose adopted a Broadband and Digital Inclusion Strategy to address the digital divide and pave the way for greater broadband access in the community through public-private partnerships.

To institute the infrastructure needed to support the Broad and Digital Inclusion Strategy, the city signed agreements with a number of telecom companies, including Verizon and AT&T, to install small cell antennas that offer enhanced voice and data capacity citywide. The AT&T deployment installed 170 small cell devices on the city’s light poles. Small cell installations on ​​rooftops and traffic lights through a partnership with Mobilitie will provide better access to high-quality broadband in traditionally under-served areas.

Having various partners helping bridge the digital divide allows the city’s residents to get quicker access to an upgraded network, as well as stimulate competition between the partners that leads to greater overall innovation. In specifically addressing San Jose’s 95,000 residents without home broadband access, the city created a new Digital Inclusion Fund that was financed with $24 million from AT&T, Verizon, and Mobilitie. The funds are to be used in increasing access to broadband and education in the region.

San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo said in a statement that he hopes the partnerships "can serve as a national model for equitably deploying next-generation broadband technologies in a way that puts the public’s interest first."

Small cell projects, like those in San Jose, are a stepping stone to implementing 5G broadband, however, the city is primarily focused on providing equitable, consistent broadband access before they move towards 5G technology.