Special Report

AEM: Wireless connectivity a big issue

The need for wireless connectivity is a concern of many farmers and ag equipment makers.

Nick Tindall, director of Government Affairs for AEM (the Association of Equipment Manufacturers), says many in Washington, D.C. don’t see it as a big deal, that there’s 3% dead-space for wireless in the U.S. – and it’s in rural areas.

Tindall says data driven decisions are the wave of the future for agriculture, “In order for that to be fully utilized you have to be able to MOVE data. And, the only real way to move data effectively is wireless. So, we’re working with lawmakers, FCC, and even private companies, educating them – like AT&T and Verizon – of the potential for machine-to-machine communication.”

Tindall says he hopes that reality increases the business case for providers to build cell towers in rural areas, “When a tractor’s making a phone call in rural America there’s about a 70% chance it’s going to go through. But, as the data needs increase and the number of equipment that has a cell modem in it increases, that’s going to drop down to the 50% range for the next few years.”

AUDIO:  Interview with Nick Tindall at the 2015 Commodity Classic: