have continued to be persistent, leading many farmers to drag their feet on embracing digital solutions. Rural internet access leaves much to be desired. This is particularly true in developing economies. In Brazil, 85% of its nearly 5.2 million farms are small family establishments, often in rural locations. Yet they account for up to 70% of Brazil’s food production. The number is similar in developed regions like the U.S., where 90% of its more than three million farms are small family-owned and operated farms that generate 21% of food production. Satellite connectivity gives all farms equal access to technology solutions that can help them weather environmental, economic, and market instability. In the competitive landscape of agri-business, integrating connected equipment, automation, and analytics ensures competitive equity and healthy growth across the market.

Ensuring Reliable Connectivity with Satellite Communications

Satellite communications give farms the reliable connectivity needed to meet the requirements and challenges of an agricultural industry undergoing digital transformation. Geosynchronous satellite networks, whose satellites are located 36,000 km from the Earth’s Equator, offer the assurance of robust connectivity, anywhere in the world, even in locations beyond the reach of LTE/5G coverage. And recent advancements—such as the integration of software-defined satellite technology and cloud infrastructure—combined with the merging of multiple orbits and groundbreaking innovations in terrestrial network technology, promise farmers true resiliency to ensure the “always on” connectivity they require for their heavy equipment to stay connected to the cloud and company networks. An always-on connectivity that should, nonetheless, be secure. Satellite operators must protect farmers against cyber-attacks, by taking a systematic defense-in-depth approach that detects, prevents, and mitigates attacks, including third-party cybersecurity accreditation, but also annual penetration assessments and organization-wide control assessments.

Fully managed connectivity solutions such as Intelsat FlexMove can support a farmer’s needs, regardless of the size of their farm or its location. Such a solution removes the complexity of dealing with bandwidth availability, configuration, and management of network infrastructure, giving farmers peace of mind. These include Communications-on-the-Move solutions that are specifically of interest for heavy equipment in the field, as they offer a simple equipment-mounted satellite antenna that automatically acquires a connection and maintains communication while it’s moving. Farmers don’t have to worry about a tractor losing connectivity and unintentionally running through crops or holding up operations. Farmers will also benefit from Communications-on-the-Pause solutions with highly compact and portable satellite terminals designed to automatically connect in a fixed location, enabling many smart farm solutions. These cost-effective, easy-to-install terminals can establish reliable connectivity in seconds, making them the perfect solution for connected farms worldwide. These fully managed connectivity solutions also accommodate the volatile world of agriculture with flexible, unparalleled service agreements.

In the competitive landscape of agri-business, integrating connected equipment, automation, and analytics ensures competitive equity and healthy growth across the market. Reliable and robust connectivity is key and satellite communications provide farmers the connectivity they need to operate, where and when they need.