Rural Connectivity Gets a Major Boost: 5 Things to Know About the John Deere-SpaceX Deal

By Matt Hopkins
Senior Online Editor | Meister Media Worldwide

Yesterday, John Deere announced a strategic partnership with SpaceX to expand rural connectivity to farmers through satellite communications. The deal will have far-reaching implications for farmers around the world. Ultimately, Deere would connect its equipment to SpaceX’s satellite technology, allowing farmers to use precision agriculture features even in areas with poor internet connection.

“The value of connectivity to farmers is broader than any single task or action. Connectivity unlocks vast opportunities that were previously limited or unavailable,” said Aaron Wetzel, Vice President of Production and Precision Ag Production Systems at John Deere, in a company release. “For example, throughout the year, farmers must complete tasks within extremely short windows of time. This requires executing incredibly precise production steps while coordinating between machines and managing machine performance. Each of these areas are enhanced through connectivity, making the entire operation more efficient, effective, and profitable.”

As Wetzel suggests, this deal would give farmers facing rural connectivity challenges the opportunity to fully leverage precision ag technologies using the Starlink network. Here are five things you need to know about the agreement:

An Industry First: This partnership, an industry first, will enable John Deere customers to be more productive, profitable, and sustainable in their operations as they continue to provide food, fuel, and fiber for their communities and a growing global population.
New and Existing Equipment: The SATCOM solution will connect both new and existing machines through satellite internet service and satellite terminals. This will fully enable technologies such as autonomy, real-time data sharing, remote diagnostics, enhanced self-repair solutions, and machine-to-machine communication, all of which help farmers work more efficiently while minimizing downtime.
How It Works: John Deere’s SATCOM solution will leverage SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet constellation. To activate this solution, John Deere dealers will install a ruggedized Starlink terminal on compatible machines, along with a 4G LTE JDLink modem to connect the machine to the John Deere Operations Center.
Roll Out in Second Half of 2024: The SATCOM solution will initially be available through a limited release in the U.S. and Brazil starting in the second half of 2024.
A Huge Boost for Rural Broadband: While rural broadband and cellular infrastructure has grown over the years, many farmers still struggle to get a connection. Approximately 15% of farms reported having no internet access, according to the USDA’s 2023 technology use report. This partnership has enormous potential in advancing better rural connectivity.

So what are your thoughts? Tell us what you think about this partnership by leaving a comment and/or by taking the poll below: