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 

Media Contact Astrocast 
Fatima Vigil - Head of Marketing
media@astrocast.com