The Internet of Things (IoT) has transformed many industries, and agriculture is no exception. IoT technology leveraging 5G and LTE connectivity can provide farmers with real-time data about their crops, soil conditions, and equipment, allowing them to make informed decisions that can increase efficiency and productivity. Here are some of the benefits of IoT in agriculture and what to consider when implementing it.
Benefits of IoT over 5G/LTE in Agriculture:
Precision Farming
IoT technology can provide farmers with real-time data about their crops and soil conditions, allowing them to make informed decisions about planting, fertilizing, and harvesting. With this data, farmers can optimize crop yields and reduce waste by tailoring their farming practices to the specific needs of each field. Planting, fertilizing, spraying, watering, and harvesting can all be achieved through automation supported by IoT and 5G/LTE connectivity.
Livestock Monitoring
IoT sensors can monitor the health and behavior of livestock, providing farmers with early warning of disease outbreaks or other issues. This can reduce the need for manual monitoring, which can be time-consuming and expensive, and allow farmers to provide better care for their animals.
Equipment Monitoring
IoT sensors can also monitor the performance of farm equipment and report back to a central location via mobile connectivity, providing farmers with real-time data about fuel consumption, machine utilization, and maintenance needs. This can help farmers reduce downtime, optimize maintenance schedules, and extend the life of their equipment.
Weather Monitoring
IoT sensors can monitor weather conditions, allowing farmers to make informed decisions about planting, harvesting, and irrigation. This can help farmers avoid crop damage due to extreme weather events and reduce the need for unnecessary water usage.
Considerations IoT over 5G/LTE in Agriculture:
Connectivity
IoT relies on a reliable internet connection to transmit data from sensors and devices to the cloud. Farmers should choose a wireless provider that offers reliable network coverage in their fields, which can be a challenge in remote areas and result in data loss or delay. Wireless solutions that incorporate 5G/LTE connectivity, including SIMs with a choice of multiple carriers, are ideal.
Cost
The cost of cellular IoT devices and services varies widely, and farmers should consider the total cost of ownership, including hardware, installation, and ongoing service fees. It is essential to compare different providers to find the most cost-effective solution. Selecting a provider who can offer flexible billing across carriers with options for pooled, shared and customized rate plans will make this process easier.
Interoperability
IoT devices and sensors from different vendors may use different communication protocols, which can make it challenging to integrate them into a single system. Farmers should ensure that the provider’s devices are compatible with the sensors and equipment they are currently using or planning to use. Service providers that support multiple connectivity options, including LTE, LTEM and 5G, will be able to meet most requirements.
Privacy
Farmers should choose a provider that offers secure data transmission and storage. As agricultural data is sensitive and confidential, it is essential to ensure that it is protected from unauthorized access or theft. Providers that support private network options as well as flexibility in IP addressing will be able to able to meet these demands. SOC 2 Type II compliance is another consideration to ensure that customer data is safeguarded.
Customer Support
It is crucial to choose a provider that offers excellent customer support, including technical assistance, troubleshooting, and maintenance. Prompt and reliable customer support can ensure that any issues are addressed quickly and effectively. Ability to access and manage SIM inventory via portal with API is also critical for large deployments.
Conclusion
Globalgig can be the strategic network partner for any agricultural IoT implementation, providing the network, worldwide coverage, technology options and commercial flexibility to meet the requirements of each application.
Learn more about our IoT connectivity options for agriculture here.