When the country’s largest network provider covers only 31 per cent of Australian soil, thousands of farming families across 5.29 million square kilometers are left without a reliable 4G connection to conduct business*.
Leading Australian mobile satellite solutions company, Pivotel Group, has launched ecoSphereTM by Pivotel, an Australian-first system designed to solve the communication and connectivity needs of farmers and their families living and working remotely, with an aim to deliver the same technology to the resources industry this year.
Pivotel Group CEO Peter Bolger said the purpose built mobile network uses 4G and satellite connectivity to create an entirely new offering for Australians, focusing on safety, security and improved efficiencies for remote properties and businesses.
“For too long Australians living remotely have been at the mercy of telecommunications giants who are inflexible and unable to offer targeted, business and safety enhancing coverage, so it’s with great pride that we have developed a solution to help these businesses compete with their metro counterparts,” Mr Bolger said.
“Pivotel Group is one of only four licensed network carriers in Australia, and the only carrier that understands the struggles that come with living, working and communicating in remote Australia. Our strong mobile satellite pedigree and network of more than 170 dealers who are mainly based in regional and remote areas have helped shape that understanding.”
ecoSphereTM by Pivotel offers long range, secure point-to-point voice, data, tracking and monitoring connections to assets across rural properties such as gates, pumps and machinery as well as employees, all within a private network which can continue to operate even when the internet is down.
Information is tracked via sensors placed around the property, and dispatched to the homestead or office via a network tower installed on the farm. The solar and battery powered base stations provide uninterrupted on-property service independent from the power grid, giving operators total visibility of their properties and allowing them to respond to incidents or events in real time.
Rabobank announced in 2014 that Australia’s farm labor costs were at their highest, with some agricultural sectors forking out more than double compared to their United States counterparts to run their business.
Mr Bolger said this new communication system from Pivotel will mean significant savings for the agricultural community with costs starting at as little as 10 cents per acre, per month, in addition to the cost of the sensors.
“By redesigning the functionality of tracking, monitoring and control technology, farmers can see for the first time if a gate is open, a tank or trough is nearly empty or if livestock are moving. Immediately, farmers will see improved productivity and efficiencies, and reduced labour and operating costs,” he said.
“Although cost saving and business efficiency were key drivers behind the system design, improved safety was always a central concern.”
Between 2010 and 2014, the agricultural industry accounted for 21 per cent of worker fatalities despite constituting only 2.6 per cent of the Australian workforce according to Safe Work Australia.
Mr Bolger believes Pivotel has developed a highly affordable system and service that stands apart from other mobile carriers thanks to the group’s expertise, unique network design and customer service.
“Our dedicated customer service team, product development and dealer network groups work hand-in-hand to offer tailor made and cost effective solutions to meet any problem faced by consumers and business entities, no matter how complex,” he said.
*Figures calculated using Telstra’s coverage compared to Australia’s size in
square kilometers, being 7.69 million. https://www.telstra.com.au/aboutus/community-environment/community- programs/rural-regional
