Astrocast, a global nanosatellite IoT network operator, and Digitanimal, a smart solutions developer in livestock tracking devices and solutions, have partnered to develop a Satellite IoT (SatIoT) solution. Both companies are collaborating to commercialize an unrivaled tracking device that connects to Astrocast’s global satellite network. The SatIoT-based collar will enable farmers to track livestock remotely. This will allow them to adopt Agriculture 4.0 farming practices as they manage their herds.
“Within remote farming environments there is often little or no terrestrial network connectivity. To solve this problem, some farms try and install antennas and base stations to deploy ground networks and access cloud technologies. But it is challenging for many farmers to deploy a reliable and financially viable infrastructure, especially if they do not have a high volume of animals to monitor,” says Carlos Callejero, CEO, Digitanimal.
Carlos Callejero adds, “Our goal is to change this situation for these remote farmers, as we incorporate Astrocast’s low-power, cost-effective SatIoT into our livestock tracking solutions. This technology – and the access to data that it provides – will enable farmers to accurately establish the location of their herds anytime and anywhere, allowing them to better manage livestock. For example, they can track movement patterns and create geo-fences to detect when livestock has drifted into areas they should not be.”
New Zealand, Australia, Kenya and South Africa are obvious markets for this tracking technology. Other countries in Africa and Asia also have large, extensive herds in vast regions with no reliable cellular network access. In Europe, it is estimated that there are 87 million cows and 50% of these animals are located in areas without terrestrial/network coverage.
“There is a digital divide in many rural and farming areas across the world. This divide is largely caused by a lack of network connectivity, which prevents many farmers from adopting smart farming practices. While the art and science of farming have been established for centuries, the innovative use of IoT and sensor technology enable farmers across all scenarios to digitize their farming practices, to become more efficient, to save cost and to reduce their carbon footprint. By partnering with Digitanimal, we look forward to facilitating access to new technologies and practices for livestock farmers globally.” says Fabien Jordan, CEO and Co-Founder, Astrocast.