Driven by farmers’ unique connectivity needs in remote locations, Connected Farms is providing a communication solution for the agriculture sector.

With 30 years’ experience in building communication towers for emergency services in rural and remote parts of Australia, Tom Andrews was often approached by frustrated farmers enquiring about cellular coverage from the new emergency-services-only towers. However, they were specifically for emergency services only. Recognising a genuine problem, and following extensive research, he launched Connected Farms – connectivity solutions to the farming sector to enable digital agriculture.

Over the past six years on regular trips to visit family in South Canterbury, New South Wales-based Tom and Melissa Andrews were consistently met with limited or non-existent internet connection – a large problem while running their business. ‘This prompted us to “scratch our own itch” and bring the same Connected Farms service offering to New Zealand,’ explains Tom. 

Connected Farms New Zealand has been running since April 2021 from the Fairlie area, using local people and suppliers. They offer high-speed satellite internet for the farm and a wide range of AgriTech layers for Smart Farming. ‘We know that farmers need connectivity where they spend most of their time – in the fields and in their sheds. Connectivity enables farmers to reduce inputs and increase their yield and profitability,’ explains Melissa.

Not only do they provide satellite internet to the farmhouse/office, but they offer a selection of options for taking connectivity across farm. From connection to remote sheds and workers’ accommodation, vehicle-mounted connectivity bubbles, to all of farm Wi-Fi systems, their aim is to ensure farmers are connected wherever they are on their property. 

Connected Farms can help farmers scale from entry-level sensors for remote monitoring of water, soil and livestock right through to complex systems for autonomous machines and Agrobots that connect every aspect of a Smart Farm. Data collected can then be transferred to the individual farm dashboard. High-country stations, vineyards, dairy farms, arable cropping farms right through to small farms can all benefit from the technology offered. ‘Prices are competitive as we know that reliability and value for money are of key importance, especially in rural areas,’ explains Melissa.

Tom is acutely aware of the importance of reliable communication to keep farmers and their workers safe. This led him to seek out the ZOLEO solution to add to the Connected Farms offering that can not only give users peace of mind if something goes wrong, but is also robust enough to withstand the rigours of farm life. 

ZOLEO is a satellite communicator; a portable device to use on-farm and in remote locations. It works with your smartphone to provide easy communication that follows you in and out of cellular coverage. ZOLEO uses the Iridium LEO (low-earth orbiting) satellite network which connects 66 cross-linked meshed networks to ensure complete cover anywhere in the world. You can send a text message, share your location, or send an SOS if immediate help is required. A potentially lifesaving feature that is taking ZOLEO beyond the farm gate with hunters accessing extreme terrain, trampers, boaters and fishermen all utilising the service. ‘It gives you peace of mind knowing where people are and if they need help,’ concludes Melissa. ‘It also offers extra protection for when smartphones are out of range or flat. It is like an extra insurance policy.’ 

For more information, visit connectedfarms.nz