Enhancing connectivity across farms
What is the problem?
If you don’t have reliable phone service or connectivity, it can be difficult to communicate, upload data, or remotely manage your operations. Additionally, shutdowns of legacy 3G systems can disrupt existing sensor systems, forcing costly resets or replacements.
Why is it important?
Many digital tools and other AgTech solutions require connectivity to operate and upload data, making it a foundational element for you to adopt new technologies. A lack of connectivity can also raise safety concerns when you’re working alone.
What does success look like?
At a minimum, you have connectivity at your offices, homes, and workshops — but true success means having reliable connectivity across your entire farm. Good understanding of your network access can also help to inform device selection and compatibility with current and future networks, supporting you to future-proof your technology investments.
Encompassed technologies
Fixed-line Connectivity
- Provides Innovative-speed, reliable internet for farm operations
- Supports real-time data transfer for management tools, monitoring, and control systems
- Forms the backbone for adopting advanced digital agriculture applications
- Coverage may be limited in certain regions
NBN
National broadband network delivering optical fibre technology, fixed wireless towers and Sky Muster Satellites to deliver the NBN network to regional and remote Australia
Estimated Cost
~ AUD 40+ / month
Satellite Connectivity
- Delivers internet connectivity to remote or hard-to-reach farm areas
- Enables use of digital tools and communication systems in areas without fibre coverage
- Maintains operational continuity during outages or network failures
Starlink
- Low-earth orbit satellite that offers Innovative-speed internet access across all of Tasmania and Australia.
- Various hardware available including for vehicles while in-motion.
Estimated Cost
AUD $139 / month service + AUD $549 (hardware kit) one-time cost
Local Network Hardware
- Expands network range and stability across the farm
- Improves connectivity between sensors, controllers, and farm devices
- Supports multiple connectivity types
Ubiquiti
Affordable ecosystem of connectivity hardware including wireless access points, routers, switches, security cameras, controller appliances, VoIP phones and access control products.
Estimated Cost
AUD150 – $600 per device (typical range)
End-to-end rural connectivity solutions
- Provides end-to-end connectivity solutions tailored to agricultural environments
- Includes both physical infrastructure and ongoing connectivity support
- Ensures compatibility between new and existing farm systems
Connected farms
- Offer a range of voice and data communication solutions to enable voice and mobile data as well as IoT connectivity infrastructure.
- Offer portable connectivity solution utilising Starlink.
Estimated Cost
Custom quote – estimated AUD1,000 – $3,000 setup + monthly data cost
Zefiti
- ZetiRover and ZetiCell products provide reliable broadband.
- Long-range Wi-Fi technology eliminates coverage gaps by extending the use of existing LTE (4G) and satellite networks.
Estimated Cost
N/A / custom quote
Data Connectivity service providers
- Connects farm sensors (water, soil, weather) to devices for real-time data access
- Enables frequent, low-cost, low-power data collection across large farm areas
- Improves monitoring accuracy and decision-making with timely insights
YBMiT
• Tasmanian owned and operated service and hardware provider building solutions for automation, remote access, data transfer, CCTV and connecting a farm.
Estimated Cost
N/A (quote required)
Definium Technologies
- Manufacture and supply LoRaWAN hardware including gateways and devices (nodes).
- Own and operate a Tasmanian-made state-wide LoRaWAN network.
Estimated Cost
N/A / hardware + network fees
National Narrowband Network
Provide a shared, and scalable IoT network service and platform, using LoRaWAN technology to enable IoT solutions using any device, any network, and any platform.
Estimated Cost
N/A / annual or per-device connectivity fee
AxisTech
- Supplies rugged IoT devices to capture on-farm weather, soil, and water data.
- Streams data into a unified dashboard (AxisStream) for mapping, reporting, and decision-making.
Estimated Cost
- Hardware: AUD 2,295 for a weather station (WiFi)
- Ongoing cost after first 12 months: AUD 735 (WiFi) or AUD 825 (Cellular) annual