SpaceX has signed a new Starlink deal with John Deere, who will soon be adding Starlink to revolutionize digital farming. This new partnership is set to bring high-speed internet connectivity to remote agricultural areas, enhancing the automation of farming processes like planting and harvesting.
Starlink’s satellite constellation will be utilized to connect various agricultural equipment, including tractors, seed planters, and crop sprayers, in regions where internet access is currently limited or non-existent. This initiative is a significant step towards achieving connectivity for farmers worldwide.
Starlink’s service deal with John Deere, expected to commence in Brazil and the U.S. later this year, will expand to other countries at a later date. The rugged and dust-proof antennas provided by SpaceX will be installed on vehicle cabs by dealers, ensuring durability and reliability in harsh farming conditions.
This takes us a step closer to ubiquitous connectivity anywhere in the world. The biggest opportunity for us is to expose existing technologies to more customers.
Jahmy Hindman, Deere’s Chief Technology Officer
This partnership is not only a technological leap but also an economic one for John Deere, as the company aims to generate a significant portion of its annual revenue from software service fees by the end of the decade. Their digital farming tools allow farmers to remotely monitor equipment, troubleshoot issues, and access real-time data, revolutionizing the way farming is done.
You might think of John Deere as an unlikely partner for SpaceX, but the company has been actively investing in computer-assisted farming solutions, developing software that helps in distinguishing crops from weeds and enabling driverless tractors for more efficient field operations.
Starlink, for its part, will benefit from this partnership as it seeks to maximize the utilization of its satellite capacity, especially in remote regions. With over 2.3 million customers and soaring revenue, Starlink continues to expand its presence in various industries, including maritime, air travel, and now digital farming.
Starlink is ideal for rural locations. Later this year, @JohnDeere will begin equipping new and existing machines across the United States and Brazil with Starlink to help connect farmers with high-speed internet so they can fully leverage precision agriculture technologies… pic.twitter.com/Jr36oTvGa4
— Starlink (@Starlink) January 15, 2024
