Connectivity: Time for Farmers to Drive New Solutions

Poor connectivity is already limiting AgTech uptake

Globally, the connectivity challenges facing famers vary drastically (see Figure 1). Significant investment in communications infrastructure in the Netherlands places it ahead in terms of global download speeds, while the speed of fixed broadband in Australia remains low even as a new broadband network is put in place. Speed is one component of connectivity, but equally important in rural areas is coverage, which lags a long way behind urban regions. In Australia, a recent survey identified that 43% of farmers have little to no mobile coverage[1], compared to the EU, where 80% of rural areas have access to 4G[2].

[1] Lamb, D (2017), Accelerating Precision Agriculture to Decision Agriculture, University of New England, Australian Government, Australia.

[2] European Commission (2017), Europe's Digital Progress Report.

Inadequate technology on-farm, including connectivity, was identified as a major barrier to greater AgTech adoption and profitability in a recent Rabobank survey of 1,000 Australian farmers. Just 23% of farmers nationally were found to be utilising sensor technology, while only 37% of users reported increased profitability as a result of sensor adoption.

New technology is driving changing connectivity requirements

Farmers require connectivity for reasons beyond mobile and internet communication. Security surveillance/remote monitoring and sharing of data generated by sensors, for example, have different network requirements. For instance, streaming security surveillance requires a higher cost high-capacity network. Meanwhile, a Low-Power Wide-Area Network (LPWAN) network is a more cost-effective approach relative to using a broadband or mobile network for capturing sensor data comprising many small data packets.

Over time, government policy settings and investment will improve the network speed and coverage facilitating communication. However, the overarching requirement for specialist networks more suitable to sensor technology will require farmers to drive their own solutions.

Whose responsibility? Farmers need to drive new solutions

Debate continues over the role of the government and telecommunication businesses in delivering services to rural and remote areas. Delays are detrimental to farm productivity and profitability. Complicating the issue is the rapidly changing connectivity requirements of AgTech applications. The broadening of on-farm, rather than regional and country-wide, network requirements, and the growing opportunity cost of limited connectivity signals means that farmers must drive their own solutions to keep at the forefront of the profitability gains offered by AgTech.

In Australia at least, the number of farmers driving their own solutions is increasing by necessity. Solutions are aimed at delivering mobile and/or broadband from last node to the farm and new LPWAN or on-farm Wi-Fi networks are offering specialist, tailor-made solutions. Those farmers who proactively seek out tailored solutions will be best placed to extract value from the digital agriculture evolution.

Author: Wesley Lefroy