Vodafone Australia has completed successful trial of a self-install mobile coverage solution – the Vodafone Regional Coverage Hub.
The plug-and-play device which delivers 4G voice and data services in locations where the coverage is patchy or unavailable, is expected to be delivered during the second half of 2019. The device also provides IoT connectivity, giving farmers the opportunity to evolve and automate their processes via agriculture and farming IoT solutions.
The six week trial took place near Ballarat Victoria using two Hub devices. The devices delivered 4G coverage across more than eight square kilometres of a potato farm owned by local farmer.
The device can be quickly and easily installed on a roof or exterior wall of a property by simply plugging it into a power source and connecting to an existing broadband internet connection. It is approximately twice the size of a standard modem, measuring 30cm long, 25cm high and 10 cm wide.
Kevin Millroy, CTO, Vodafone Australia
Farmers face a particularly big challenge without reliable mobile coverage across their properties. The ability to make a call and access emails while working, let alone the opportunity to adopt new services and applications, just isn’t there without reliable coverage. Providing a self-install solution removes the dependency that regional communities and farmers have on mobile operators.
