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The agricultural industry is radically being digitalized. The root cause of this revolution is the necessity of being connected- a necessity that is not always achievable in large rural areas by traditional networks. Introduce 5G private networks, a technological breakthrough that has the high bandwidth and ultra-low latency needed to drive the next generation of smart farming along with the high security levels.
The Connectivity Challenge in Modern Agriculture
The farming operation is always decentralized and far-spread in vast and open fields where the cellular networks of the population are weak and ineffective. Most modern farming technologies, including autonomous tractors, real-time drone mapping, and more, require an uninterrupted and immediate flow of data. They cannot afford to be behind or lose connections. In addition, farming information is incredibly sensitive, including proprietary operating data and specific yield projections. This poses a twofold dilemma: mass, trusted coverage and ironclad data protection and privacy.
How 5G Private Networks Enable Smarter Farming
A 5G network can be used as a farm-specific digital highway. It offers limited coverage that is specific to the geography of the operation, and all corners of the field are covered. The basis opens a system of transformative applications.
Powering Autonomous Farming Equipment
A large-scale machine such as a tractor and a harvester can work independently and with a certain degree of precision with a private 5G network. Its low latency means that these vehicles are able to process sensor and GPS readings in real-time, moving safely and efficiently through fields. Using SMAwave solutions makes this possible, allowing an integrated fleet that may operate 24 hours a day to increase productivity and minimize resources used.
Enhancing Real-Time Crop Monitoring
Crop health assessment requires drones with high resolution cameras and multispectral sensors. These drones can transmit large volumes of imagery and sensor data to the cloud over a private 5G network and without interruption. This information can be then made immediately accessible to farmers and agronomists, giving them insights into the health of plants, pest outbreaks, or nutrient deficiencies near the time they occur. This allows quick, precise measures that would save whole crops.
Optimizing Precision Irrigation Systems
Water is an invaluable resource and accurate irrigation is the key to farming sustainability. Soil moisture sensor networks used on a field can continuously acquire data and send it over a 5G network that is privately operated. The infrastructure provided by SMAwave allows one to combine this real-time data with automated irrigation systems that in turn can provide the precise quantity of water required and at the point of need. This eliminates waste, saves money and results in healthier crops.
Transforming Livestock Tracking and Management
In the case of large-scale ranching, it is always difficult to monitor the health of livestock and its position, it is possible to transmit the necessary vital information in real time via a private network: the location of an animal, its body temperature, and activity level. This enables farmers to easily detect sick or injured animals, manage grazing plans and maintain better control of the entire herd, all off a central dashboard.
Addressing Security and Data Privacy
One of the vast benefits of a private network is ownership and control. The method used by SMAwave has the advantage of placing all data produced by sensors, drones and equipment on the private network of the farm. This removes the risks of transferring sensitive operating information on the open network, and farmers have full assurance on their data privacy and security.