GoKawiilRural Argentines rely on AM radio to relay personal messages across remote areas
In isolated parts of Argentina, residents without reliable phone or internet access use AM radio stations to send and receive personal messages, from birthday greetings to news of births, illnesses, and lost livestock. Stations like LRA9 Radio Nacional in Esquel and LU20 Radio Chubut broadcast these messages, sometimes directing listeners to specific hilltops or other spots where cellphone reception is strong enough to follow up by phone. Some residents even rig makeshift pulley systems to hoist phones into treetops to catch a signal.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The practice illustrates how communities with limited digital infrastructure adapt older broadcast technology to meet needs usually served by mobile networks or the internet, suggesting that connectivity gaps persist even in the smartphone era. It also highlights how local radio continues to function as a social and emergency communication backbone in geographically isolated regions, a role that predates and now coexists uneasily with modern telecoms.
- AM radio stations in rural Argentina broadcast personal messages between residents lacking phone or internet access.
- Listeners use hilltops, like 'La Señal' in Esquel, or makeshift tree-top pulley systems to catch cellphone signals.
- The practice reflects enduring connectivity gaps in remote areas despite widespread mobile technology elsewhere.
Sangean ATS-405 AM/FM Shortwave Radio — This article captures how AM radio still binds remote Argentine communities together when cell networks fail, and a solid portable radio like the Sangean ATS-405 lets you tune into that same world of distant broadcasts. It pulls in long-range AM and shortwave signals clearly, making it great for listening to rural stations or just understanding this old-school communication lifeline. Perfect for radio hobbyists curious about the kind of analog network described in the piece.
See Sangean ATS-405 AM/FM Shortwave Radio on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: newyorker.com — Jordan Salama, 2026-10-13
Published there as: “The First Social Network: In rural Argentina residents send messages w AM radio”
Read the original report → The summary and analysis above are GoKawiil's own, written from reporting by the source above. Facts and quotes belong to the original publisher.