ASTRO: Astrocast partners with Avirtech to enable data-driven smart farming in remote areas
1.12.2022 08:26 • Oslo Børs •
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Satellite IoT connectivity and devices provide the technology that supports
remote IoT-based agriculture

Lausanne, Switzerland and Singapore, 1 December 2022 - Astrocast, a leading

global nanosatellite IoT network operator, and Avirtech, a leading provider of

plantation control systems that monitor site conditions to reduce operational

costs and increase yields, today announce a smart farming partnership. Astrocast

is providing Avirtech with Satellite IoT (SatIoT) connectivity solutions for its

BIOTA intelligent farm control system. This includes integrating its technology

into Avirtech's Avirlink S1 Communication Nodes - this enables plantation owners

to make legacy sensors smart by recording and controlling information remotely

over long distances.

This partnership and technology integration provides Avirtech the capability to

offer clients connectivity in areas with limited or no terrestrial/cellular

connectivity, such as mountainous areas. Access to SatIoT connectivity in these

kinds of regions allows plantation owners to better track and understand

plantation health. Using sensors that are connected to the cloud, and IoT-based

digital agriculture, helps users develop a connected plantation that is led by

data-driven farming - tracking factors like weather, temperature, humidity,

rainfall data, water level, water quality and soil moisture.

"Many plantations are in remote areas where fixed line, terrestrial and cellular

connectivity is not ubiquitous. This is not ideal for farmers and plantation

owners - who are trying to adopt Agriculture 4.0 and develop digital agriculture

ecosystems that make use of IoT (internet of things) and analytics from

field-based, integrated sensor solutions," says Rendy Ferixsen, CEO, Avirtech.

He adds, "Access to Astrocast's SatIoT connectivity, and integrating its

communication modules into our devices, is enabling us to provide clients with

the connectivity options required in these kinds of challenging regions. It now

means that plantation owners can remotely measure an area's microclimate, for

example, and gather accurate sensor-led information that informs predictions and

forecasts about potential upcoming changes to plantations. With this, plantation

owners can make smarter management decisions and take more control of their

crops and yield."

In any remote IoT deployment, device size, power consumption and reliability are

priority concerns. Astrocast's small-sized devices offer low power consumption

and long battery life (up to 10 years). These considerations become vital as

organisations like Avirtech embark upon deploying strategic SatIoT initiatives

for clients. Further, by combining good-quality battery technology with an

intelligent approach to data transmission, the lifecycle of IoT solutions can be

significantly extended.

Rendy Ferixsen, CEO, Avirtech says, "After testing several other satellite

solutions, Avirtech selected Astrocast because it outperformed the competition

on power consumption, antenna size and cost."

Bidirectional IoT has a vital role to play here too. The ability to send

commands back to assets, rather than just receive data, is powerful. It enables

an array of new use cases, including remote management of equipment. Farmers can

command silos to release food, open gates or manage irrigation systems, without

any need for expensive and often hard-to-source human interaction. With

information seamlessly integrated with existing analytics, AI, or machine

learning solutions, organisations have the power to use this data to improve

understanding, and direct actions of remote assets.

"Only 15% of the world has access to terrestrial networks. This collaboration

between Astrocast and Avirtech allows its agricultural clients and plantation

owners to access to digital ecosystems in remote farming areas, using sensors to

monitor and control plantations. By deploying Avirtech's technology, enabled

with SatIoT connectivity, plantation owners can improve the efficiency of their

farms, increase output, increase productivity and improve sustainable

development goals," said Fabien Jordan, CEO and Co-Founder, Astrocast.

"Traditionally, a lack of weather-based information, informing smart nursery

plantation management, has made it difficult for farmers and plantation owners

to maintain their operations. Agriculture-based IoT solutions from firms, like

Avirtech, can simplify processes and deliver the data and transformation needed

by this vital industry to cut costs, cut waste and improve sustainability - all

while improving production returns."

- END -

About Astrocast

Astrocast SA operates a leading global nanosatellite IoT network, offering

services in industries such as Agriculture & Livestock, Maritime, Environment &

Utilities to name a few. The Astrocast network enables companies to monitor,

track, and communicate with remote assets from anywhere in the world. It relies

on superior L-band spectrum through a strategic alliance with Thuraya. In

partnership with Airbus, CEA/LETI and ESA, Astrocast developed Astronode S, an

ultra-low power and miniaturised module compatible with inexpensive L-band patch

antennas. Founded in 2014 by a renowned team of experts, Astrocast develops and

tests all its products in-house, from the satellites to the modules. Astrocast

is listed on Euronext Growth Oslo.

For more information visit www.astrocast.com

About Avirtech

Avirtech provides crop intelligence, including plantation control systems for

monitoring site conditions through aerial and ground information, such as

topography, crop health, soil quality, rainfall and farm operations activity,

and other processes necessary for production cycles. Avirtech's solutions

provide optimization for crop yield and reduce cost for plantation.

Through precision agriculture and enabling data-driven insights, Avirtech

accelerates the digitalization of plantations to solve workforce shortages and

improve long-term sustainability. Avirtech solutions tri-prong approach includes

remote sensing for plantations using drones, detailed insights using ground

sensors, and precision spraying for crop protection. For more information visit

www.avirtech.co